Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas — In the early hours of September 9, 2023, a caravan traveling from the United States was ambushed by armed civilians on the Roma Bridge in Miguel Alemán, highlighting the escalating security concerns in the region. As a result of this brutal assault, nine individuals sustained gunshot wounds.
According to a tweet from the Vocería de Seguridad Tamaulipas, the caravan, consisting of 20 individuals — 16 Mexicans and four Americans — was traveling in two vehicles when attacked. The four Americans, including two adults aged 23 and 21 and two minors, aged 14 years and 17 months respectively, escaped the incident unharmed. The three injured, all of Mexican nationality, included a woman from Dallas with two gunshot wounds to her back, a 62-year-old man shot in the leg, and a 70-year-old man shot in the finger.
The Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) strongly condemned the attack. “This incident underscores the importance of strengthening our border security to ensure the safety of our citizens,” the statement read.
Immediate response
The emergency services received rapid alerts about the situation, allowing for a swift response. The Mexican Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA) and medical units from the Municipal Civil Protection arrived at the scene to address the aftermath.
Those injured in the attack were immediately transported by medical personnel for essential care. To ensure their prompt recovery and specialized treatment, the victims were subsequently transferred to the United States.
U.S. official comments and Tamaulipas authorities Report
A U.S. official informed Reuters that at around 5:30 AM local time, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processed seven individuals from the caravan. They arrived in Mexican ambulances and were later taken to hospitals. This group included U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents in the U.S., and one Mexican national.
The Security Authorities of Tamaulipas also reported on social media that, in addition to the three gunshot victims, six individuals were treated for “nervous breakdowns.”
Tamaulipas, bordering Texas, is notoriously known as one of the most violent territories in the country, plagued by criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, drug trade, and other illicit activities. The incident comes months after the kidnapping of four Americans in Tamaulipas, resulting in two deaths — an event that strained relations between Mexico and the U.S.
Rising concerns
This unfortunate incident has reignited discussions about the urgent need to bolster security measures at the borders. The objective remains clear: to protect the citizens traveling through these areas and to foster international cooperation to combat transnational crime.
Authorities are rigorously working to identify those responsible for the attack and ensure they face justice. The shared goal is to prevent similar tragedies in the future and ensure the safety and well-being of the residents on both sides of the border.