Deported Mexicans Say Migrant's Bridge Death Linked to Larger Suicide Problem Jean Guerrero - KPBS
go to original February 23, 2017

Mexican officials are investigating the death of a man they said likely jumped from a Tijuana bridge footsteps from San Diego about an hour after being deported from the United States.

"The agencies in charge say it's likely he jumped but they have not officially confirmed it," said Rodulfo Figueroa Pacheco, the Baja California representative for Mexico's National Immigration Institute.

Figueroa told KPBS that Guadalupe Olivas Valencia, from the Mexican state of Sinaloa, was detained by U.S. immigration officials on Monday while trying to cross the border through the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Figueroa said Olivas was deported at 8:21 a.m. Tuesday, and was found dead about one hour later.

Olivas’ death came on the same morning the Department of Homeland Security announced new guidelines on deporting immigrants in the U.S. illegally, in accordance with President Trump's orders. But Olivas' death does not appear to be connected to the new guidelines.

Deported migrants told KPBS that Olivas's death is part of a larger problem of suicides among Mexicans who are separated from their families in the U.S.

Read the rest at KPBS

Related: Witnesses Tried to Stop Migrant from Committing Suicide (The Fulano Forum)

Related: Border Angels Leader Blames Trump Policies for Deported Migrant’s Suicide (Times of San Diego)

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