For Many, Mexico Is a Death-Trap for Migrants: 'It Was the Worst Day of My Life' Madeleine Penman - Amnesty International
go to original July 5, 2015

Thousands of children from Central America are still migrating through Mexico, a year after a the US declared an emergency over the surge in unaccompanied minor migrants though their borders. (AFP/EsilManiaNews)

Every year, thousands of Central American migrants make the long and risky journey through Mexico to the USA in the desperate hope of finding a new life or escaping violence in their home countries. For many, the voyage is a death-trap with scores falling prey to violent criminal gangs and some going missing without a trace. This is the story of Elias, one of the few lucky survivors.

A fragile, earnest 17-year-old boy who is dearly trying to put on a brave face, Elias looks up at me and his smile fades as he tells me how he was almost killed. How he fled and walked through the unforgiving Mexican desert for 12 hours without any food or water.

He was barely able to put one foot in front of the other.

“God, if it is my turn to die, I will sit down here. But if not, please give me the strength to walk,” he told himself, thinking that day would be his last.

On 2 June Elias, originally from El Salvador, and 12 other migrants from Central America, found themselves in the desert on the border of Mexico with Arizona after escaping a brutal attack by two heavily armed men.

The 13 survivors were travelling with a group of 100 migrants who were forced to stop along the route in Caborca, in the Mexican state of Sonora, when one of their vans broke down.

As some of the men tried to fix the vehicle, Elias saw two armed individuals dressed in military gear aggressively approach them. A shower of bullets followed.

Amongst the screams and chaos, people ran in all directions in a desperate bid to save their lives.

Elias’ expression turns to one of horror as he recounts those moments.

“It was the worst day of my life,” he said.

Read the rest at Amnesty International

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