Pastor in Juarez City Faces 180 Years in Prison for Human Trafficking
Juarez City.- The Public Ministry has requested the maximum penalty of 180 years in prison for Velia HG, pastor of the Aposento Alto church in Juarez City, for the crime of human trafficking in its form of forced labor or services. The pastor allegedly forced migrants to work under threats, with three migrants from Michoacán, two from Honduras, and one from El Salvador being among the victims.
The prosecution is also seeking a fine worth 50 days and compensation for damages totaling 91,600 pesos for psychological therapy for the victims. The victims, who were allegedly forced to perform construction work without payment, decided to leave the church despite threats from HG, who reportedly warned them that they would be removed from the list for asylum or work permits in the United States.
During the opening arguments of the oral trial, it was revealed that men were forced to do manual labor to improve the pastor’s property, while women were forced to cook food in poor conditions. Even children were reportedly forced to transport sand as part of the forced labor scheme.
According to witnesses, the pastor allegedly took advantage of the vulnerable situation of the migrants who had left their places of origin in search of better opportunities in the United States. The victims were allegedly threatened with being left stranded in Juarez City if they did not comply with the forced labor demands.
Aposento Alto, which was initially established as a dining room and later converted into a humanitarian space, received support from international organizations and civil society groups. However, due to the alleged irregularities and complaints about the pastor’s treatment of the migrants, support for the church began to diminish, and several organizations withdrew their assistance.
As the trial progresses, more details are expected to emerge about the alleged forced labor scheme orchestrated by the pastor. The prosecution is determined to seek justice for the victims and ensure that those responsible for human trafficking are held accountable to the full extent of the law.