On this day, February 2, 2021, the newly sworn in President Joe Biden, a Democrat, signed several Executive Orders today that were penned to reverse failed policies that were initiated by the former President Trump. In addition, the Executive Orders appear to focus upon several important objectives; specially, one important objective shall be to unite the six hundred or more children at the southern border, who are still being detained, to reunite the kids with their families. More must be done, and let’s hope that more will be done in a positive direction.

The former Trump Administration had in place a policy called the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forced migrants fleeing from horrible living conditions within their home countries such as Guatemala and other Central American countries to remain in Mexico, when the migrants’ goal’s have been to migrate to North America; to seek safety, food, justice, water, jobs, better health, and peace. While traveling through Mexico, and within Mexico, many of the Migrants become victims of physical attacks by organized criminal groups.

Along with WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), SIO (Stellar i Observer) also condemns and expresses deep sadness at the discovery of nineteen people who were found inside the remnants of a burned out truck, on January 22nd, located in the northern Mexican border state of Tamaulipas. The victims were murdered. Even more, the organization ‘Human Rights First’ had collected data on over one thousand cases of migrants who have been victimized while being forced to wait in Mexico under the “Remain in Mexico” policy. The victimization comprises crimes such as murder, rape, torture, kidnapping and other attacks.

In addition, according to recent reports out of Washington, a few days ago, Mexican officials discovered 128 men, women, and children, primarily from Central America, who were all packed into the back of shipping truck, located within the state of Veracruz.

Clearly, the Mexican Government and the U.S. Government must work together, to join forces, with the common goal of preventing and solving the current and ongoing occurrences of violence against migrants. There will be progress when cooperation and joint investigations occur at an increased level, among our governments, with the shared objective to eliminate the crimes against the migrants (Moms, Dads, Uncles, Aunts, Children, Grandparents), which shall ensure that they will be safe at all stages of the cross border as well as within the border migration process.