Migrants set fire to a camp in the middle of the night in northern Mexico

By Jose Luis Gonzalez

CHIHUAWA, Mexico (Reuters) – Migrants who tried to detain them burned blankets and mattresses at a camp in the northern Mexican city of Chihuahua early on Saturday as government troops cleared the site.

The move comes as US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday, accusing the Mexican government of not doing enough to curb immigration to the US and threatening to impose tariffs.

About 250 Mexican officials, including National Guard military police, surrounded the camp at midnight, a Reuters witness said.

The witness stated that the migrants started burning mattresses and blankets in protest, and tried to sneak out of the place with children and goods.

In less than an hour, there was no loss of life or injuries in the fire.

Mexico’s immigration agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An immigration official, who was not authorized to speak to reporters, told Reuters that the operation was aimed at bringing the migrants to Mexico’s southern border so they could be sent back home.

It was unclear how many people were arrested.

Many of the 150 migrants headed for North America were Venezuelan families who stopped at the Chihuahua City camp, about 220 miles (360 km) from the border town of Ciudad Juárez.

Daniel Barrios, a Venezuelan immigrant, said he was surprised by the sudden police presence as he walked with a woman carrying a baby on her back and a baby carrying a shiny blue backpack.

“They surrounded the camp… just to talk, they asked if they were going to search and all that.”

“ Speak up (WA:) Me, is it reasonable to come with a full force of police and military to investigate the camp when you can do it during the day?

“We have to move,” Barrios snapped as he saw officials from a distance.

Another family that fled the camp was also confused and scared, he said. A woman was crying as she held two children by her side, and two men held toddlers in their arms, as red smoke billowed into the air behind them.

“The police came and immigration officials arrived at this shelter today. We don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “We’re confused. We’re scared.”