CNDH accused the Army of murdering 6 migrants from India, Pakistan, and Cuba, among others.

The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has reached a verdict regarding the murder of 6 migrants in Chiapas.

The commission issued recommendation 175VG/2025, which directly holds the Mexican Army responsible for the death of six migrants during an operation in Chiapas, which occurred on October 1, 2024.

The organization concluded that there was an "excessive use of force" by elements of the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena). The murder resulted in a serious violation of human rights at the very beginning of Claudia Sheinbaum's six-year term.

The events occurred on the Villa Comaltitlán-Huixtla highway, when a pickup truck that was transporting migrants attempted to evade a military checkpoint. In response, the Army personnel opened fire on the vehicle, which caused the death of six people, including a minor, and left 12 others injured.

Additionally, 17 more migrants were unharmed and were placed at the disposal of the National Institute of Migration (INM). The victims were from Egypt, Nepal, Cuba, India, and Pakistan.

The version of the military that didn't convince the CNDH.

According to the CNDH statement, the military justified their action by stating they heard gunshots and, consequently, replied by shooting. However, forensic tests applied to the passengers of the truck were negative for lead and barium residues, which would rule out that the migrants had fired.

This led the organization to conclude that there was an "illegitimate use of firearms" and a serious omission of protocols to protect the lives of migrants.

The CNDH confirmed that two Army personnel are already linked to the process and under preventive detention, based on witness statements and the evidence collected by the Prosecutor's Office.

For the national organization, their actions were negligent by not ensuring the physical integrity of those traveling through national territory in a vulnerable situation.

Complaints of authority abuses are on the rise in Mexico.

This case adds to a long list of complaints about abuses by military forces in public security tasks. The controversy occurs amid a growing presence of the Army in civilian tasks throughout the country.

Human rights organizations have expressed their concern about the role that the Armed Forces play in the current Mexican migration policy.