Fire at Ciudad Juarez migration center kills at least 39

March 28 (UPI) -- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador blamed protesting immigrants for starting a fire at a borer migration camp that killed at least 39 people late Monday.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Obrador said some of the migrants put small mattresses at the door of the shelter and set them on fire "as a form of protest" after they learned that they might be deported.

"They didn't imagine this would cause this misfortune," he said.

Obrador said the names and nationalities of those who were killed were not yet known, but added they were mainly from Central America.

The National Institute of Migration in Mexico's Ministry of the Interior said in a translated statement that those who were killed in the blaze at the "accommodation area" of the center were not Mexican citizens.

The institute said 68 men from Central and South America were staying at the immigration center.

"Given the facts, communication and coordination were established with consular authorities from different countries to implement actions that allow the full identification of deceased migrants," the institute said.

"The INM expresses its willingness to assist in legal investigations, in order to clarify these unfortunate events. This immigration authority will promptly monitor the evolution of the health status of those who are hospitalized and will provide full support to the families of the victims."

Authorities continued to investigate the start of the fire, which is near the Santa Fe International Bridge that crosses into El Paso.

Andrea Chavez, the federal deputy of Ciudad Juarez, said she was waiting for more information on what happened.