Mexican authorities have rescued 22 migrants who were being held captive by cartel gunmen at a ranch in southern Mexico. The rescue came after a fierce gun battle in which a soldier and a police officer were killed in a clash with more than 15 gunmen.
The rescue operation took place Thursday afternoon near Tapachula in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. According to newspaper El Diario del SurAuthorities were investigating the recent kidnapping of four Cuban immigrants. They received information that a ranch near the main road connecting Tapachula and Viva Mexico was being used as a warehouse for migrants. When authorities arrived at the scene, they were met by a group of more than 15 gunmen, who opened fire.
A state trooper and a Mexican soldier were killed in the shootout. Authorities were able to arrest one gunman, while the others fled. After the clashes, authorities recovered more than 14 rifles and rescued 22 migrants who had been held against their will by the gunmen.
The rescue came after weeks of complaints from migrants that authorities in Chiapas were not investigating their kidnappings. According to El Diario del SurMigrants claimed armed groups were taking Haitians, Venezuelans and Cubans and forcing their loved ones to pay fees of about $5,000 for their release.
The kidnappings come as Chiapas continues to be one of the leading migrant hotspots, with thousands of migrants continuing to flow into Mexico. Migrants are requesting permission to travel to the U.S. border to apply for asylum. Asylum claim abuse continues to be a major trend used by smugglers and migrants seeking to reach the United States to claim credible fear.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart, Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Breitbart's senior management team. you can follow him Twitter And even more facebook. He can be contacted at: iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas' Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Breitbart's senior management team. please follow him Twitter and facebook. He can be contacted at: bdarby@breitbart.com.
