Corruption of the Police Forces

Through Enrique’s journey to the United States, I was particularly struck by the corruption of the Mexican police forces. Rather than stopping and sending back the migrants they caught, the agents would exploit the children instead of protecting their safety. For example, in San Ramon, when the migrant agents stopped the trains, they did not send back the children and save them from the peril of the train cars. Instead, the police took advantage of the children’s desperation, forcing the migrants to face a Catch-22: either be sent home, or be robbed of all their belongings and continue on the journey penniless. Another example was in Cordoba, when Enrique was forced to bribe an officer with his three dollars, belt, and cap. In Chiapas, a Honduran girl, pregnant after being raped, was shot and beaten by three police officers. These officers, whose duty is to save these migrants, are instead putting the children’s lives at risk. According to Julio Cesar Trujillo Velasquez, a spokesman for the Diocese of Orizaba, “Municipal and state police would beat migrants, sometimes take their money, then throw them into the back of their truck.” The officers are profiting from bribing and/or capturing these migrants. The corruption of the Mexican government proves to be an issue since the police officers are neither aiding nor saving the migrants from the peril of the journey, only adding yet another obstacle to the migrants’ well-being and freedom.

I feel that the officers and agents need to provide more structure, creating a safer environment for the children travelling through Mexico from Central America. To me, it is pitiful and wrong that the migrants must fear the government in addition to their numerous physical and emotional obstacles. The government needs to be a source of aid and relief, not one of fear and harm. Considering all aspects of the officers’ corruption, do you think it would be better for the police forces to help the migrants on their journey or stop and save them from its danger?