According to information provided by the Mexican government and various humanitarian organizations, the incidents of sexual violence perpetrated against migrants have witnessed a disturbing increase in the border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros. This unsettling trend is unfolding against a backdrop of heightened concern and scrutiny, with an expanding body of evidence highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.
Carolina's harrowing ordeal serves as a chilling example of the growing crisis. In late May, when her captors arrived at the stash house in Reynosa at dawn, she initially believed they intended to coerce her into making yet another distressing plea to her family in Venezuela, imploring them to pay a daunting $2,000 ransom. However, to her profound horror, Carolina was forcibly pushed onto a dilapidated bus parked nearby, where she became a victim of sexual assault. In her own words, she described it as "the saddest, most horrible thing that can happen to a person."
A migrant advocate who aided Carolina after her kidnapping, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, has corroborated all the details of her traumatic account. Unfortunately, Carolina's experience is not isolated, as an alarming surge in sexual violence against migrants in the border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros has come to light. This disturbing revelation is supported by data from both the Mexican government and humanitarian organizations, as well as firsthand accounts from eight survivors of sexual assault and testimonies from more than a dozen local aid workers.
In response to inquiries about the escalating incidents of rape reported in these areas, Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), expressed deep concern, describing the treatment of migrants by smugglers as "criminal and morally reprehensible."
According to state data spanning from 2014 to 2023, obtained by Reuters through freedom of information requests, criminal investigations into the rape of foreign nationals, excluding Americans, have reached record levels in these two cities.
Tamaulipas, the state in which Reynosa and Matamoros are situated, is currently deemed the most perilous region along the U.S.-Mexico border, as highlighted by the U.S. State Department's assessment.
The surge in sexual violence is occurring against the backdrop of unprecedented levels of illegal border crossings. In response to this, the Biden administration introduced a new system in May that requires migrants to secure appointments via the CBP One app to present themselves at legal border crossings when seeking entry into the United States.
Experts, including legal professionals, medical experts, and aid workers, have argued that the implementation of this new system has inadvertently contributed to the spike in violence within the two cities. Notably, the heightened risk of kidnapping and sexual assault in Reynosa and Matamoros has become a compelling factor driving migrants to undertake illegal border crossings, which saw a significant surge in September.
Proponents of the new CBP policy argue that it promotes a more humane approach, reducing the reliance on smugglers and criminal groups to facilitate illegal border crossings. However, experts contend that criminal groups are still demanding payments from migrants to enter their territories, with rape often being used as a means of coercion to extract money from vulnerable individuals.
As a result of this evolving situation, some migrants are spending prolonged periods in these perilous regions as they await their appointments on the CBP One app. With tens of thousands of individuals vying for only 1,450 slots daily, competition is fierce, and risks are elevated.
A senior CBP official, based in Washington, expressed the agency's deep concern regarding reports of sexual assaults in these two cities, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
However, Luis Miranda, the DHS spokesperson, argued that the administration's policies have rendered it unnecessary for migrants to wait at the border, as they can now schedule appointments from various locations across Central and Northern Mexico.
The accounts of survivors, such as Carolina, reveal the brutal reality of sexual violence in this context, where migrants are subjected to horrifying assaults and kidnapping ordeals. Yet, fear and lack of trust in authorities have deterred many victims from reporting these crimes. Olivia Lemus, the head of Tamaulipas' human rights commission, stressed that official data represents only a fraction of the actual cases, as migrants often hesitate to file reports due to their apprehensions.
Significantly, various Mexican agencies, including the national migration agency, Tamaulipas' security agency, and Mexico's foreign ministry, declined to respond to questions about sexual violence against migrants. Juan Rodriguez, the head of Tamaulipas' migrant services agency, acknowledged the issue, stating that "unfortunately, sometimes things happen."
This disturbing wave of sexual violence underscores the dire need for comprehensive measures to protect vulnerable migrants and address the deeply rooted issues that contribute to these horrifying crimes. The pursuit of safety, dignity, and justice for migrants remains an ongoing and imperative challenge.
Â
