Mexican authorities rescue 219 immigrants in southern border

Mexican authorities rescue 219 immigrants in southern border

2011-01-28 08:49:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHIAPAS, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican authorities rescued a group of 219 immigrants in the southern state of Chiapas on Wednesday night, El Universal newspaper reported on Thursday.

The immigrants were said to be traveling in 'inhumane conditions' in a trailer reported as stolen. The group included 177 men, 33 women and nine children. Of these, 169 were from Guatemala, 22 from El Salvador, 18 from Honduras, six from Sri Lanka and four from Nepal.

According to an official statement, security officials chased the truck after the driver didn't obey the stop sign at a checkpoint at a highway near Chiapa's state capital of Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

Upon inspection, the police located the 219 immigrants who asked for help. They received medical and psychological attention, as well as legal advice.

Abraham Rosales Francisco Jiménez and David González Serrano were arrested at the scene.

During their statement, the immigrants said that they had been threatened to not reveal that they were traveling in the trailer. They paid 58 thousand quetzales (7,319.6 dollars) in total for the transportation.

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