Coahuila Deports 1,000 Migrants Daily, Mirroring Texas' Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Tactics

Jan 04, 2024

The Border Center for Journalists and Bloggers (BCJB) summarizes the leading news on the border on January 4, 2024.

Vanguardia Newspaper: By air and by bus, Coahuila deports about a thousand migrants daily: FGE (Spanish)

In Coahuila, Mexico, the state government, collaborating with the federal authorities, is deporting about 1,000 migrants daily from Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña, primarily to Central America, through air and bus transport. This initiative, led by Governor Manolo Jiménez and emphasized by State Attorney General Gerardo Márquez Guevara, mirrors efforts similar to those of the Texas government. Texas has recently authorized its state police to arrest and deport migrants entering without legal permission. Coahuila's active role in migrant deportations and support for the National Institute of Migration reflects a regional shift towards more stringent immigration control measures. This approach has reportedly resulted in a significant decrease in detentions by the U.S. Border Patrol in Eagle Pass and Del Rio, from around 3,000 daily to just 500-700. This decrease is cited as a reason for opening more lanes on the international bridges from Piedras Negras for trailers, indicating a shift in border activity dynamics.

Arizona Republic: Nogales rancher George Alan Kelly rejects plea deal in murder case; trial date set

People involved in a migrant murder case in Arizona — Left Gabriel Cuen, the killed migrant; right, George Alan Kelly, the defendant

In the volatile backdrop of border tensions, George Alan Kelly, a 75-year-old rancher from Nogales, has declined a plea deal in a case emblematic of the dangers migrants face while trespassing on private property. Kelly is accused of the fatal shooting of Mexican citizen Gabriel Cuen Buitimea in January 2023 on his Kino Springs ranch. The incident underscores the escalating risks for migrants who, often out of desperation, cross into private lands where ranch owners, like Kelly, are increasingly prepared to use firearms.

The plea deal, offered by Kimberly Hunley, chief deputy Santa Cruz County attorney, would have reduced Kelly's charge to one count of negligent homicide. However, Kelly refused this offer, which carried a four to eight-year sentencing range. He now faces charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault, with considerably harsher potential sentences ranging from 10 to 25 years and 5 to 15 years, respectively.

Set against the backdrop of heightened border security concerns and contentious immigration politics, Kelly's case highlights the lethal risks faced by migrants. These dangers are amplified by property owners' willingness to use lethal force in defense of their lands. The trial, now scheduled for March 21 after a postponement due to an appellate court's intervention, will likely draw attention to the broader issue of migrant safety and landowners' rights in border regions. A further hearing on January 16th will discuss the details of the plea deal, with Kelly and his attorney, Brenna Larkin, participating remotely.

A migrant broadcast live on TikTok an attempt of an organized crime group tried to kidnap a group of migrants in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, on December 12th, 2023.