“Communities Come Together in Mourning: Vigils Honoring the 8 Victims of Brownsville and Austin Tragedies”

Border & Immigration Vigils planned in Brownsville and Austin for 8 people killed after motorist struck them

A Tragic Incident

The migrant community in Brownsville, Texas, is in mourning after a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of eight lives. A motorist drove into a crowd that was waiting at a bus stop near a migrant shelter, killing eight people and injuring at least ten others. Some of the deceased had previously purchased airline tickets to be united with their family members in the U.S., but this reunion never happened. Local groups, community members, first responders, and the local Catholic Diocese gathered on Sunday night at the Ozanam migrant shelter in Brownsville, five miles from the Texas-Mexico border. The community held a Mass near the scene where the incident occurred.

Calls for Humanitarian Assistance

The RGV Welcoming Committee (RGVWC), a cross-border coalition of nonprofits based in the Rio Grande Valley, expressed shock and called for “greater humanitarian assistance” for the migrant community affected by this tragic incident. The immigrant rights advocacy group, La Unión Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), is also in mourning after the “senseless deaths” caused by a “reckless driver.” LUPE awaited more details from the investigation and sent its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The incident raises a need for increased state and federal vigilance for the safety of migrants and the protection of their rights.

The Need for Protection

Domingo Garcia, president of LULAC, emphasized the need for both the Abbott and Biden administrations to pay attention to “right-wing activity” as they create policies that affect migrant communities. He highlights the vulnerability of legal migrants and calls for increased vigilance and protection. Bishop Daniel Flores led the evening Mass at the shelter and expressed shock at the horrific loss, adding that “we must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants, the poor, and the vulnerable.” The Diocese closely works with the Ozanam shelter to provide humanitarian aid to families in cooperation with federal authorities who release migrants into their care as part of the asylum process in the U.S.

Suggestions for the Future

The incident is a reminder that migrants face significant challenges and dangers in their journeys to the U.S. This incident calls for a collaborative effort between government agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide better support and protection for these individuals.

Conclusion

Incidents like these highlight the need for increased support, vigilance, and protection for migrant communities. Migrants are human beings with hopes and dreams and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It is incumbent upon individuals, governments, and organizations to work together to provide better support to these communities. Vigils, such as those planned in Brownsville and Austin, offer an opportunity for communities to come together in mourning and pay respects to those who have lost their lives.