At least 39 immigrants died in a fire at a station operated by the National Institute of Migration in Juárez, a northern Mexican city on the border with the United States. The agency released the figure in a formal statement and noted the tragedy occurred at a facility that was serving as an immigration office for the area.
According to INM, the facility housed 68 adult men originally from Central and South American countries.
From those present, 29 people sustained injuries and were taken to four local hospitals in serious condition, where medical teams provided urgent care as initial assessments continued.
INM said it promptly informed the National Human Rights Commission so that the appropriate legal processes could proceed and measures could be taken to protect the rights of the foreign nationals involved.
The station sits on the Stanton-Lerdo International Bridge, a crossing that connects Ciudad Juárez with El Paso, Texas. The held migrants were predominantly from Venezuela, among others who had sought entry into the United States.
Witnesses told local media that the fire began in the area where the detainees were kept, and several individuals were reported to have been trapped as flames spread through the enclosure.
In response, INM said it established rapid communication and coordination with consular authorities from the countries affected to ensure full identification of the victims and to support their families.
The agency also expressed its willingness to assist with ongoing investigations to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and to address the needs of those hurt and bereaved.
INM pledged to follow the evolution of the hospitalized individuals and to provide ongoing support to the families affected by the event.
Prior to the incident, INM officers had conducted an operation aimed at discouraging immigrants who were begging for alms on public streets, part of broader measures reported in the region.
The local situation has coincided with a rise in migrant presence in the area, linked to new U.S. policies that allow for the rapid removal of certain undocumented entrants arriving by land from Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The broader region is experiencing a high level of movement, with data indicating that more than 2.7 million undocumented migrants have been detained, reflecting an 8 percent increase in migration flows at the United States–Mexico border during the 2022 fiscal year and across Mexican territory, according to data from the International Organization for Migration.