Mexican judges limit early evidence in Ciudad Juárez migrant kidnapping cases

In Ciudad Juárez, judges authorized only four of the 15 requests for "prueba anticipada" (early evidence) to prosecute crimes against migrants, according to officials from the local security and justice desk. Coordinador Guillermo Asiain noted that the limited approvals hinder the ability to hold traffickers accountable.

In June, the Northern District Prosecutor secured a historic sentence of 845 years and 10 months for four kidnappers after 13 foreign migrants testified in an early‑evidence hearing. During the first half of 2024, 33 investigations involving 71 kidnapping victims were opened in Juárez; 22 victims were rescued in June, most of them from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Ecuador. Authorities are collaborating with the consulates of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to retain testimony before migrants leave the country.