Tragedy at Immigration Detention Center in Ciudad Juarez: At Least 39 Dead in Overnight Fire

At least 39 people have died in a fire that broke out overnight at an immigration detention center in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, near the U.S. border, according to a statement issued early Tuesday by the National Immigration Institute (INM).

The INM’s statement said 29 other people were seriously injured in the blaze and taken to local hospitals for treatment. Images from the scene showed rows of bodies lying under shimmery silver sheets outside the facility. Video from the scene showed bodies covered in blankets lined up in a row outside the facility.

Viangly, a Venezuelan migrant, was at an ambulance for her injured husband, Eduard Caraballo, while Mexican authorities and firefighters removed injured migrants, mostly Venezuelans, from inside the INM building during the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the INM has not released any information about the identities of those who died in the blaze.

The incident has sparked outrage among human rights activists, who have long criticized the Mexican government for its treatment of migrants. The Mexican government has promised to investigate the incident and to take steps to ensure the safety of migrants in the future.