‘end reached’
Migrants told Reuters that the kidnappers gave low food and water rations, giving priority to women and children. They said they spent the cold nights sleeping without blankets on the floor, which looked like an event hall. The kidnappers told them to keep quiet.
“I honestly felt I had reached the end … that I was not going to survive,” said Rizzo, who is now in El Paso, Texas.
On December 7, according to Rizzo, the kidnappers quickly left after seeing officers outside. The migrants broke down the front door of the building, and found members of the National Guard, Army and INM outside.
The army and INM did not respond to requests for comment about the 7 December rescue, while the National Guard said it had taken part on 5 December.
Nicaraguan expatriate Byron Montiel, now also in El Paso, showed Reuters a money transfer receipt he said a relative had sent to the kidnappers, and text messages from a kidnapper demanding money to a relative. were sent
By Sunday, groups of migrants had traveled to Mexico’s northern border, where they formed a long line along the border wall, in one of the largest group crossings in recent years.
Leuertt said the incident was an example of what immigrants had to go through on the long journey to reach the United States.
“It shows the kidnappings and other risks that migrants face in Mexico and all the different groups trying to make money off them,” she said.