WOLA: Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas
19 Sep 2016 | Video

Migrant Children Fleeing Violence are Rarely Protected in Mexico: Gabriela’s Story

Background 

As WOLA has noted in a new joint report, the government of Mexico is failing to strengthen its capacity to adequately screen migrants who might be eligible for protection, raising concerns about migrants’ rights and due process.

READ: A TRAIL OF IMPUNITY

“Gabriela” was taken by a local gang in Honduras and forced to work at brothel. She was shot twice when she refused to date one of the gang leaders. Before her wounds had even healed, she decided to migrate to the United States to reunite with her mother. However, in Mexico she describes being stopped by armed men who identified themselves as authorities, and witnessing the murder of many of the migrants in her group. She was able to escape and was later intercepted by authorities after walking for days. The Mexican government offered to keep her in state custody until she turned 18. Unable to reunite with her mother in the United States, she chose to return to her country despite the threats against her.