1 Year Since Deadly Fire in Ciudad Juárez; Survivors Still in Limbo
CIUDAD JUÁREZ— On March 27, 2023, a fire occurred at an immigration detention center in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The fire killed 40 people and left 27 others seriously injured. At the time of the fire, the facility held at least 68 men from Central and South America waiting to seek protection in the United States after multiple raids were conducted around the city.
One year later, survivors and family members impacted by this preventable tragedy do not have access to the resources or protection they need to heal.
Viangly, wife of Eduard, a survivor of the fire, shared the following statement:
“The tragic fire outbreak could have been prevented if better asylum policies had been in place and if the human rights of migrants had been taken into consideration. Despite the health problems he was left with forever, I am grateful that Eduard survived. The governments of the United States and Mexico should be held responsible, several families lost a dad, or an uncle, simply because they were seeking a better life but were met instead with cruelty. It is important to remember that migrating is not a crime.”
Crystal Sandoval, Director of Cross-Border Initiatives, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, shared the following statement:
“One year ago today, fronterizos witnessed one of the deadliest tragedies to befall our migrant community. Our commitment is to honor the memories of the 40 victims and to continue to care for those directly impacted. Through collaborations on both sides of the border, Las Americas has connected survivors to doctors, provided case management services, and directly advocated for long-term humanitarian protection for the victims and their families here in the U.S.
“More needs to be done to ensure everyone impacted by this horrific fire receives justice and can heal with dignity and hope. These mothers, fathers, aunts, and uncles who were met with cruelty and death as they sought a chance at a better life deserve recognition and reparations by the governments whose policies contributed to the disaster. The conditions that led to this tragedy remain with us today. Thousands of people seeking safety are still stranded in Mexico because of the Biden administration’s asylum ban. And too many people still die at the border as they seek safety and opportunity. By criminalizing the act of migration and relying on prisons to cut the flow of migration to the U.S./Mexico border, we increase the risk of history repeating itself and our communities being forced to reckon with more traumatic events like this one in the future.”
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Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides high-quality legal services to low-income immigrants. Since its founding in 1987, Las Americas has served close to 80,000 people, with a strong focus on women, children, families, the LGBTQ community, and asylum seekers.