Recently, an American Thinker article mentioned the train that has been called “The Beast” in Mexico, which is alleged to be used by many illegal immigrants, including children, as they make their way north to the border.

Counsel from Kansas City Southern (KCS), parent company of Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM), informs us:

Neither KCS nor KCSM own or operate “The Beast,” as the article calls it.

The number of Central American migrants coming from Mexico’s southern border, where KCSM does not operate, to the U.S.-Mexico border aboard KCSM trains is minimal and subject to heavy railroad security enforcement. KCSM has a robust security system aimed at preventing illegal migrant trespassing, protecting cargo and preventing vandalism and accidents, and complies strictly with the security rules and regulations in close coordination with public security authorities at three government levels in Mexico.

KCSM has made significant investments to increase the security of railway operations in its service area, which mostly lies north of Mexico City, including technology, security personnel, intelligence, and also operating systems related to security in stations, shipping points and the main points of KCSM’s railway network. For KCSM, this investment and attention to safety and security has resulted in a very good safety and security record.

KCS is and has been actively engaged with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security providing intelligence briefings to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”) and his executive staff and other U.S. intelligence agencies on the illegal immigration issue. KCS is in daily contact with Texas Department of Public Safety (“DPS”) sharing information and conducting continuous research to support and provide timely information to DPS in the Rio Grande Valley.

Similarly, KCSM closely coordinates with Mexican federal immigration authorities to ensure proper respect and treatment to immigrants who illegally use the freight railroad. Being respectful of the Mexican laws and migrants’ human rights, KCSM's substantial security is focused on coordination with Mexican authorities and prioritizes respect for the human rights of people who illegally trespass on the railroad. KCSM regularly provides its security and operations contractors with precise training to respect the physical integrity of any people who trespass on the railway illegally. KCSM also has strict internal controls to monitor and identify any incidents involving its security contractors and enforcing the law accordingly. KCSM acts in adherence to the processes established by Mexican laws related to immigration and railroad security.

The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) in the U.S. and KCSM in Mexico are responsible corporate citizens who have invested heavily in security technology, staff, intelligence gathering and operating systems. Both companies comply strictly with the respective security laws and regulations in the U.S. and Mexico, and respect the physical integrity of any person who might illegally gain access to one of their trains and travel on the railway. Both companies have coordinated and will continue to coordinate closely with U.S., Mexican, and State of Texas officials to address these issues of public concern.

We want to make you aware that any assertion that KCS, KCSR or KCSM is in any way complicit in the use of the Mexican railroads for transit of illegal immigrants through Mexico, even on railroads not related to KCS, is wrong. Any assertion that KCS, KCSR or KCSM conspire with anyone to violate the human rights of persons illegally riding on KCSR or KCSM trains is also wrong.