Regarding the 4 Americans kidnapped & murdered in Mexico

[ecstatic]

Investigators believe the Americans were targeted by a Mexican cartel that likely mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers, a US official familiar with the ongoing investigation tells CNN.

Link: https://www.cnn.com/americas/live-news/americans-kidnapped-in-mexico-03-07-23/h_cb37805575356c1819c14391fccd5df7

CNN injected this tidbit into the conversation and I'd like to know which official said that and why? For me, it comes across as dismissive, racist and also providing cover to the cartels. I don't see any other references to "Haitian drug smugglers" sneaking around Mexico--it doesn't make logical sense. I see references to Mexican drug smugglers in Haiti, but not the other way around. So why throw that out there?

[mucifer]

1. i heard it on msnbc, too

[Frasier Balzov]

2. The ones being racist are the Mexican cartels.

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/18/1065135970/on-mexicos-southern-border-the-latest-migration-surge-is-haitian

[Rocknation]

4. I heard they were mistaken for "human traffickers."

I don't imagine the cartels would be happy about THAT part of their business being competed with, either. But this is the first time I've heard about Haitian immigrants trying to get over the wall from Mexico to the U.S. -- thanks for the perspective, NPR and DU!


Rocknation

[ecstatic]

5. I didn't know that was going on, but I guess my concern is

Does the FBI have plants inside the Mexican cartels? Because it's kind of weird to me that they are cartel-splaining the incident.

Why would the cartels think that penniless Haitian migrants would be driving around in a relatively newer minivan with American plates?

Are actual Haitian migrants being killed regularly in Mexico?

Are Black Americans safe in Mexico? Clearly not, but why wasn't this issue added as an additional warning on the state department's website? To just casually mention this threat after people are killed, without offering further details, is f'd up.

My sister was literally in Mexico two weeks ago for a dental procedure. Los Algodones, Mexico. A different part, for sure, and she was driven into the country by a guide provided by the medical facility, but still. This is very concerning. A lot more questions need to be answered.

[live love laugh]

3. Which "journalist" obtained this tidbit from the cartel?

Asking for a friend.