**Colombian Activist Accuses Migration Officials of Misconduct**
Paola Morales, a prominent human rights activist and founder of the Colombian community association in Baja California, has filed a formal complaint with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) against agents from the National Institute of Migration (INM) of Mexico. She alleges that on October 2, while arriving at the airport where she has lived for six years, INM agents detained her, threatened her with deportation, and temporarily confiscated her mobile phones.
This incident, captured in a series of videos uploaded by Morales on the association’s social media, is seen as a blatant violation of human rights. One video shows an agent in INM uniform taking her phone, with Morales repeatedly asking for it back and stating her intent to file a complaint. Another video captures an agent threatening to deport her back to Colombia.
Speaking at a press conference organized by the civil association Espacio Migrante, Morales described the encounter, detailing how it escalated from her asking the agents to assist the children of detained parents, who were sleeping on the floor. Her request was met with hostility, which she described as part of a wider pattern of abusive behavior by INM agents at the airport checkpoint.
Graciela Zamudio, from Alma Migrante, has called on her fellow activists to unite against these reported abuses by migration authorities. Morales and other advocates are urging an investigation into the behavior of the INM agents at the airport, highlighting their allegedly harsh and dismissive conduct even towards Mexican nationals on domestic flights.
**Additional Updates on Migrant Challenges**
Recently, asylum seekers in Mexico have faced additional hurdles in renewing their humanitarian permits, an essential document that allows them to reside legally while awaiting their asylum decisions. Reports indicate increasing delays and complex bureaucracy hindering the process.
In Baja California, applications for refugee status have decreased, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) pointing to a range of contributing factors. Meanwhile, the recent appointment of Jose Palau Hernandez as the head of the INM in Baja California has left some activists feeling ignored in their continued calls for reform.
Elsewhere, issues of public safety and governance remain a concern. The appointment of new leadership within Tijuana’s security forces, including Juan Manuel Sánchez Rosales as the head of the SSPCM and Juan Carlos Hernández Herrera as police chief, is expected to bring strategic changes over the next six months. The municipality and state have also announced plans to leverage intelligence to combat crime more effectively.
In health news, temporary suspension of medical passes has affected local clinics, with patients urged to verify services due to ongoing reviews. Meanwhile, awareness initiatives during Breast Cancer Awareness Month are seeing a push to encourage more women to undergo mammography screenings, addressing fears and misconceptions that lead to underutilization of such preventative measures.
In response to these various challenges, experts argue that the federal government shows leniency towards informal economic activities rather than encouraging formal regulation, suggesting that a shift in policy could strengthen the overall economic structure.