EchoSense-102 African migrants detained traveling by bus in southern Mexico; 3 smugglers arrested

2025-04-30 12:20:01source:Charles Langstoncategory:Markets

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities detained two buses carrying 102 migrants from African nations in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on EchoSenseTuesday morning, according to Mexico’s immigration agency.

Three suspected people smugglers traveling with the convoy were also arrested.

The majority of the migrants came from the West African nations of Senegal and Guinea, as well as six from Djibouti, two from Congo and one from Mauritania.

Authorities did not say how the migrants are thought to have arrived in Mexico, but African migrants have been known to use Nicaragua as a transit point to reach the U.S., because of the country’s lax visa requirements.

Other news Biden and Congress are mulling big changes on immigration. What are they and what could they mean?Washington’s center of gravity on immigration has shifted to the right. Can the parties make a deal?Illinois scraps plan for building migrant winter camp due to toxic soil risk

In the past month Mexican authorities have claimed to “rescue” or “locate” hundreds of migrants from houses, vehicles, and a trailer box. With a few exceptions, experts said the rescues are more accurately characterized as arrests.

“They are almost 100% apprehensions,” said Ari Sawyer, a border researcher at Human Rights Watch, who likened the wording used by Mexican authorities with that of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Mexico’s immigration agency said Tuesday in a news release that the detained migrants were being processed in Oaxaca, but did not say if Mexico would attempt to return them to Africa.

Earlier this month an internal memo seen by The Associated Press showed that the agency cannot afford to deport or transfer any more migrants after a record setting year for migration.

____

Follow AP’s global migration coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/migration

More:Markets

Recommend

Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches

Jamie Foxx's birthday dinner took a surprising turn on Friday the 13th.The "Collateral" actor was hi

Alexei Navalny's death reveals the power of grief as his widow continues fight against Putin

In a nearly 9-minute long YouTube video, Yulia Navalnaya declared to the world her mission to contin

This Kylie Cosmetics Lip Butter Keeps My Perpetually Chapped Lips Smooth All Day & It Smells Amazing

We independently selected these products because we love them, and we think you might like them at t