**Estimated 30,000 Missing Persons in Baja California**
Baja California is currently facing an alarming number of missing persons, with search collectives estimating that around 30,000 individuals are unaccounted for in the region. Paula Sandoval, president of the search collective “Familiares Unidos Buscando a Nuestros Desaparecidos,” emphasizes that while there are approximately 19,000 active missing person reports, the actual number is believed to be significantly higher.
Despite official statements from the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE) indicating that it is no longer necessary to wait 72 hours before reporting a disappearance, Sandoval asserts that this practice persists. “They’ve been telling us for three years that we don’t need to wait, but when we go to report, we’re told we have to wait,” she stated.
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**Secondary Article: Disappearance Reporting and Search Efforts in Baja California**
Further reports suggest that the issue of missing persons extends beyond just the numbers. The FGE in Tijuana receives between five to six disappearance reports daily, exacerbating the crisis. Moreover, in an ongoing effort, search collectives have already discovered over 100 bodies this year alone, highlighting the devastating toll this issue is taking on families and communities.
In related news, the fiscal Alejandro López Reyes of the FGE has reiterated that there is no longer a mandatory 72-hour waiting period to report a missing person. Nevertheless, according to Sandoval, many families still encounter this barrier when trying to report a disappearance, indicating a significant gap between policy and practice.
As this crisis continues to unfold, calls for increased funding and resources for the FGE are growing louder. According to Fedabo, the fiscal agency is currently working as fast as its budget and workload allow, but there is a clear need for more personnel and resources to address the overwhelming number of cases effectively.
Stay informed on this evolving situation with TJGringo.com for the latest updates and detailed analysis on missing persons in Baja California.