🚨 6 Migrants Killed in Crossfire between SEDENA and Traffickers in Chiapas
⚖️ Human Rights Organizations claim justice and urge measures for no repetition * 📚🚨 Former School Board President in Texas Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges
🚨 6 Migrants Killed in Crossfire between SEDENA and Traffickers in Chiapas 🚨
By Ángeles Mariscal, Chiapas Paralelo.- In a tragic incident that occurred on October 1, 2024, in Villa Comaltitlán, Chiapas, six migrants lost their lives, and ten were injured in an alleged crossfire during a military chase. The confrontation involved the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA), which detected a suspicious vehicle and, after being met with gunfire, the military responded to the attack. The vehicle, which was carrying 33 migrants of various nationalities, including Egypt, Nepal, Pakistan, and Cuba, was stopped, and the occupants were found with injuries of varying severity; four died on the spot and two more in the hospital. Military authorities have launched an investigation with the Attorney General's Office to clarify the events and determine responsibilities. The incident has reignited criticism of migration policies and militarisation in the region, with calls for justice for the victims from humanitarian and human rights organizations.
⚖️ Human Rights Organizations claim justice and urge measures for no repetition
The Monitoring Collective – Southern Border issued a statement demanding justice and accountability from the Mexican State following a tragic incident that occurred in Villa Comaltitlán, Chiapas, where six migrants died and ten were injured in a military chase. The incident took place on October 1, 2024, when military elements attacked a vehicle transporting 33 migrants after failing to stop at a checkpoint. The deceased and injured include people from Nepal, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Cuba.
The Collective strongly criticizes restrictive immigration policies and militarization that continue to put the lives of people in need of international protection at risk. In addition, they emphasize the lack of transparency and the need for an impartial investigation that includes direct testimonies from the victims.
The statement also highlights the urgency of addressing the conditions that favor these incidents and demands that the dignity and human rights of the victims be guaranteed, including adequate medical care, dignified identification of the deceased, and the immigration regularization of the survivors.
Finally, the Collective underlines the importance of migration policies that respect human rights and reject violence and containment policies that dehumanize people on the move. They urge the Mexican State to ensure that these tragedies do not go unpunished and to take concrete measures to prevent their repetition.
📚🚨 Former School Board President in Texas Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges
By Mark Reagan, The McAllen Monitor.- Francisco Javier Alanis, the former president of the Progreso school board, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Arrested in October 2023, Alanis admitted to his role in a scheme involving the transport of drugs from Progreso, Texas, across the United States using tractor-trailers. His involvement included financing the vehicles used for transporting approximately 11 pounds of cocaine. This case is connected to his brother, Gerardo Alanis, Progreso’s former mayor, who remains under indictment for similar charges and is currently under arrest. The broader investigation has revealed the use of school district facilities for drug packaging and storage, highlighting significant breaches in school security and public trust. Gerardo Alanis’s trial is ongoing, with further court proceedings expected later this month. Francisco Javier Alanis is scheduled for sentencing in January.
🚔📦 Mexican Government Official Nabbed with 55 Pounds of Cocaine at U.S. Border Entry
By Xavier Alvarez, The Associated Press.- In a startling incident at the Falcon Dam Port of Entry, Jesus Fernando Serrano Lauretta, claiming to be a Mexican government official, was arrested after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 55 pounds of cocaine in his vehicle. The drugs, hidden in 22 bundles within the seats of his white 2024 MG MG5, were uncovered during a thorough inspection after anomalies appeared in an x-ray of the car. Serrano, who initially told officers he was visiting the U.S. to shop and meet a friend, later changed his story about his origins and purpose. He is now facing possession charges with intent to distribute, and his initial court appearance was on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano in McAllen federal court.
📢 Bernie Sanders Rallies Texas Progressives, Urges Support for Harris to Keep Trump Out 🇺🇸
By Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune.- Senator Bernie Sanders rallied Texas progressives at Texas State University, emphasizing the critical need to support Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris against Donald Trump. Sanders, alongside prominent Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Greg Casar, and Beto O’Rourke, voiced a unified call for progressive mobilization to safeguard American democracy and address foundational issues like health care, climate change, and income inequality. While acknowledging disagreements with Harris, particularly on foreign policy, Sanders stressed the importance of short-term unity for long-term transformation. The event also spotlighted U.S. Rep. Colin Allred’s pivotal Senate race against Ted Cruz, highlighting its potential impact on Senate control and progressive legislation.