103 migrant children found in an abandoned trailer in Mexico

News

by Isabelle Kane

March 7, 2023 | 8:24 a.m

More than 100 unaccompanied migrant children were discovered inside an abandoned trailer in Mexico on Sunday – one of the largest recent revelations of minors migrating across the country.

Most of the 103 unapproved minors, the government said Monday, were traveling through Mexico from Guatemala.

In addition to the children, 212 adults were from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Ecuador, National Institute of Migration (INM) he said in a statement.

The authorities also found 28 migrants traveling with families inside the truck.

The families came from Guatemala and El Salvador, bringing the total number of immigrants to 343.

The trailer was found abandoned without a driver on the side of the Cosamaloapan-La Tinaja highway, according to INM.

It has been rigged with propellers and a metal structure creating a second level interior. It also had several fans installed in the basement and temporary vents in its roof.

A photo of the disturbing discovery, posted by INM, showed plastic water bottles and other rubbish strewn across the floor of the truck.

Video captured by INM shows swarms of migrants being helped out of the back of a crowded trailer.

Many of the immigrants appear to be young men, many without shirts as they jump out of the crowded truck.

The migrants inside the truck were wearing colorful wristbands as a means of identification.

Unaccompanied children will be placed in the custody of the Veracruz Family Services System. Other immigrants will be processed to determine their legal status in Mexico.

Nearly 60 children were discovered unsupervised inside a crowded truck carrying about 70 migrants from Guatemala to Mexico in January.

Most of the van’s occupants were unaccompanied youths between the ages of 14 and 17.

with wire