“The massacre committed against our brothers and sisters in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, demonstrate the level of savageness that criminal organizations are capable of exerting against fellow human beings, as well as their degree of confidence about the impunity they have come to enjoy in Mexico,” stated Angela Sanbrano, President of NALACC. “This very sad news, particularly for the children, the spouses, the parents of the migrants assassinated in Mexico; represents the greatest escalation to date of the violence spiral that has been affecting an increasing number of communities in Mexico, as well as migrants that transit throughout Mexico in search for an opportunity to reach what they hope would be a better life for themselves and their love ones in the United States of America,” added Ms. Sanbrano. “The punitive official policies, as well as the inability of the Mexican authorities to ensure the well being of all persons, including migrants in transit, have greatly contribute to the environment that leads to this horrendous crime, and many other similar abuses committed on a daily basis in Mexico, particularly against migrants,” concluded Ms. Sanbrano.

“The lack of basic opportunities for ordinary people to live dignified lives in their countries of origin, including access to good paying jobs, access to individual liberties, access to education and health care, access to affirm and celebrate their cultures; is what forces so many people to make the painful decision to emigrate from their countries of origin in search for such an opportunity in countries like the United States of America,” stated Juvencio Rocha Peralta, NALACC’s Vice-president, and President of Mexicans Association of North Carolina (AMEXCAN). “For as long as this conditions persist, and migratory policies continue to be driven by punitive, restrictive and exclusionary principles; we will continue to see the rights of migrants be systematically violated, to the point of what just happened in Mexico,” added Mr. Rocha Peralta. “The only way to solve this unfolding human tragedy is to acknowledge the need to embrace a brand new set of social, economic, political and cultural development policies, capable of leading ordinary people to want to stay in their own countries; and at the same time, embrace migratory policies that in the short term recognize the vastly positive impact of migration for receiving and sending countries; and most of all, the humanity of every migrant person,” concluded Mr. Rocha Peralta.

“What just happened in Mexico is a crime against humanity. As such, it calls for all governments committed to the respect of human rights to intervene in such a way in which all parties responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice and penalize for such an atrocity,” stated Oscar Chacón, NALACC’s Executive Director. “The burden is greater and more immediate for the Mexican government. We expect no less than an immediate and thorough investigation by the Mexican government, and the full cooperation of the rest of the Latin American governments, as well as the U.S. Government,” continued Mr. Chacón. “It is imperative to bring those responsible for this massacre to justice. Otherwise, the message will be that it is acceptable to continue to violate the rights, including the indiscriminate killing of migrants in transit through Mexico,” stated Mr. Chacón. “NALACC will establish contact with key human rights organizations in the countries of origin of the victims, as well as in Mexico and the U.S., to explore ways in which we all can act together to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice. Likewise, NALACC will reach out to all governments involve to explore the possibility of joint action at the international level to ensure that justice be served,” concluded Mr. Chacón.

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Contact:
Xochitl Espinosa at (877) 683-2908, ext. 4 or at xespinosa@nalacc.org<