Immigrant abuse reveals societal decay, warns Mexican archdiocese

Mexico City, Mexico, Jan 27, 2011 / 12:04 pm

The Archdiocese of Xalapa, Mexico is warning that the abuse suffered by Central Americans traveling through Mexico is “an evident sign of societal decay.”

The archdiocese added in a Jan. 23 statement that Christians must not remain indifferent to the injustice. The message was sent in order to raise awareness of the mistreatment suffered by Central American migrants on their way to the United States.

The statement noted that being a Christian is not only about fighting against personal sin but also about working for a more just and kind world.

Mexico and Honduras need to improve relations in order “to ensure the security and unrestricted transit” of immigrants, the archdiocese continued. The “State Commission on Human Rights should also insist that the humiliations, abuse, kidnappings and extortion of all of these brothers and sisters of ours cease.”

The archdiocese thanked the priests, religious and laity who “as good Samaritans,” offer food, shelter and clothing “to those most in need.”

A serious problem

On Jan. 6, Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission reported that in 2010 there were 214 cases of migrant kidnappings. One of the most chilling cases took place last August when 72 migrants from Central and South American were murdered by members of Mexico's drug gangs.

At the time, Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar of San Salvador, El Salvador condemned the massacre and asked that agreements be established to protect the undocumented.