Archival image, migrants trying to enter the COMAR offices in Tapachula, Chiapas. Photo Cuartoscuro
Tapachula, Chiapas. Haitian migrants once again forcibly entered the provisional offices of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance in Tapachula, Chiapas, leaving two detained and at least seven injured.
For the third time in less than a week, the non-nationals caused a riot by tearing down the metal fences placed in the outdoor sqaure of Parque Los Cerritos, where the COMAR offices are located in the south of the city.
In a first surge, three women were beaten and were treated by Civil Protection paramedics.
Elements of the National Guard guarding the site restored order. However, in a second action, the crowd pushed the fences that fell to the ground and rushed towards one of the entrances to the facilities.
Four more Haitians, two men and two women, were also beaten, such that they were also helped by the paramedics who remain on site to deal with any situation.
Two Haitians accused of inciting disorder were arrested by the municipal police on charges of administrative misconduct for disturbing public order.
“There is no order, everyone gets involved and there is pushing and shoving. I have been here for three days trying to enter with my daughter and I can’t”, said Carolina Machado, from Cuba.
Leonel Fajardo, from Honduras, said that he arrived at three in the morning to wait in lines but there were already many people and until 11 a.m. this Monday he was still far from entering.
“I had to sleep in the park, I don’t have money and they don’t want to give you a job if you don’t have papers, that’s why I’m here to see if they can give me a document and I can get some work so I can continue on up”, the Central American said.
This Monday, about three thousand migrants from Haiti, Cuba and Central America mainly saturated the COMAR offices in an attempt to start their asylum procedures.
Due to the crowds and in an attempt to maintain order, the authorities have decided to organize four large lines. One for complete families, another for Haitians, one more for Cubans and the fourth for Central Americans and other nationalities.
The COMAR office in Tapachula concentrates more than 50 percent of all asylum requests made in the country, according to official statistics.
Original article at https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2023/10/23/estados/ingresan-migrantes-haitianos-por-la-fuerza-a-la-comar-en-chiapas-2850
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.