Mexico's National Guard was involved in a fatal shooting incident near the U.S. border, resulting in the death of two Colombians and injuries to four others. The Defense Department claimed that the confrontation took place on a dirt road near Tecate, east of Otay Mesa on the California border, a known route used by Mexican migrant smugglers.
Colombia's foreign ministry confirmed that all the victims were migrants caught in the crossfire. The deceased were identified as a 20-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, with conflicting reports on the number of wounded Colombians. The Defense Department did not clarify whether the victims were migrants but mentioned that one Colombian who was unharmed was handed over to immigration officials.
This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that military forces in Mexico have fired on migrants. Previously, on October 1, soldiers shot at a truck in Chiapas, resulting in the deaths of six migrants, including individuals from Egypt, El Salvador, Peru, and Honduras.
The National Guard patrol came under fire after encountering two trucks near an informal border crossing and a wind power generation plant. One truck managed to escape, while the other was fired upon by the guards, leading to casualties among the Colombians. The surviving individuals found at the scene included a Colombian and a Mexican man, with the discovery of a pistol and ammunition.
While Colombians have been associated with Mexican drug cartels, the involvement of immigration officials and the Colombian consulate suggests that the victims were likely migrants. The National Guard officers involved in the shooting have been relieved of duty pending further investigation.
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration had granted the military an expanded role in law enforcement, leading to the creation of the militarized National Guard. However, critics argue that the military is ill-equipped for civilian law enforcement tasks, raising concerns about the disproportionate casualties in such incidents.
