On Monday (27), a fire at an immigrant detention center in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, resulted in at least 40 deaths, with most of the victims originating from Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador, Colombia and Ecuador. In addition, 28 people were seriously injured. Survivors and authorities provided additional information about the incident, with surveillance video showing two men dressed as guards entering the detention cell shortly before the migrants set fire to mattresses they had placed against the bars, starting the fire that raged quickly. The guards left the scene without trying to rescue the detainees, who were being held for violating Mexican immigration laws, according to the Associated Press.

While Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has claimed the fire was set by the migrants themselves in protest against the news that they would be deported, migrant rights groups question that official narrative and accuse authorities of failing to guarantee the detainees' safety. Tensions between authorities and migrants have been rising in recent weeks in Ciudad Juarez, where shelters are full of people waiting for opportunities to cross the US border or awaiting the asylum process, according to NBC News.

More than 30 migrant shelters and other advocacy organizations published an open letter denouncing the city's criminalization of migrants and asylum seekers, accusing authorities of abusing migrants and using excessive force to arrest them. The tragedy caused an outpouring of consternation in the region, and many continued to question the circumstances surrounding the incident and the Mexican authorities' response.

President López Obrador visited the scene of the tragedy on Wednesday (29) to offer his condolences to the families of the victims and to inspect the damaged facility. During his visit, he reiterated his pledge to improve conditions for migrants in the country and prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. However, some human rights organizations called for concrete actions by the Mexican government to protect the rights of migrants and ensure they receive humane and dignified treatment, the Associated Press reported.

US immigration policy under the administration of former President Donald Trump has imposed even stricter measures on the border with Mexico, such as separating families, building a wall and limiting the number of asylum seekers. These policies have forced many migrants to seek alternative, often perilous, routes to achieving the American dream. Now, under the administration of President Joe Biden, there is hope for a change in US immigration policy, which seeks a more humanitarian approach and seeks to address the root of the problem.

In addition, the tragedy also highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing the migration issue. A country's immigration policy affects not only the migrants trying to reach that country, but also neighboring countries and the region as a whole.

In this sense, it is necessary for Latin American governments to work together to develop more fair and humane migration policies. The solution to the migration crisis is not closing borders or increasing repression, but rather addressing the underlying causes of migration and providing opportunities for people to live in dignity and security in their home countries.

Finally, it is important to remember that migrants are human beings who deserve respect and protection. The tragedy in Ciudad Juárez is a call to action for all stakeholders, including governments, international organizations and civil society, to work together to provide sustainable and humane solutions to the migration issue.