Tag Archives: migrant deaths

This Week in Migrant Killing

Posted on September 30, 2022 | 1 comment

2 Migrants Killed in Border Patrol Chase

Border Patrol doesn’t seem to have much to do down on the border, so, when they have the chance to chase down migrants being driven in a private vehicle you know the chances are good that they will cause an accident–even death. And that is what occurred in Uvalde, TX when the Migra gave chase down a stretch of highway that led into downtown Uvalde and caused a collision of the pickup being chased into a semi-tractor killing two and injuring 10 others in the pickup.

It’s no secret that these migrant chases are a danger, not just to law enforcement and the migrants, but also for innocent drivers who get caught up in them. And it’s not just the Border Patrol, which is led by Joe Biden, but also Greg Abbotts boondoggle which funds overtime for DPS and local sheriffs.

What is unfortunate is that Democrats running statewide aren’t saying much, other than Abbott’s activities are a waste. Well, duh. In fact, Abbott’s activities are a danger to all and are the cause of racist practices and policies beyond what Abbott leads. Biden sitting on these policies and not doing much about them doesn’t help, either.

Bigots Murder Migrant in West Texas

Two brothers, one of them a jail warden at a private migrant prison, gave themselves the authority to shoot at migrants during their free time.

Two men shot two migrants, killing one and injuring another, earlier this week while the two victims stood along a West Texas road getting water, authorities said. One of the alleged shooters is reportedly a warden for a privately run immigration detention center.

So, Texas bigotry promoted and led by Greg Abbott meets the private prison boondoggle. They were only charged with manslaughter, from initial reports. So, it must be asked: What the fuck is going on?

Anyway, this is another example of continued racist policies and practices in the name of “securing borders.” And nothing has been said by Democrats running statewide.

Abbott’s Border Wall

Greg Abbott just wasted $300 million on 14 miles of border wall. This is just another death-causing ploy as migrants will still cross, but in more dangerous and treacherous areas of the border. They’ll die from the heat, from vigilantes, and/or migrant chases.

UPDATE: Beto O’Rourke responded this morning on his FB page:

This is the predictable result when Abbott describes asylum seekers as an “invasion,” asks Texans to “defend” the state from immigrants by “taking matters into our own hands,” and treats refugees like political props instead of human beings.

We saw it 3 years ago in El Paso. We will continue to see this until we have a governor who sees migrants as human beings, and is focused on solutions instead of political stunts.

We have real problems at our border and with our immigration system. Everyone can agree on that much. But I hope we can also agree that stunts like busing asylum seekers, and inciting hatred for and fear of those fleeing dictatorships hasn’t solved any of those problems.

We should focus on the commonsense solutions that most Texans actually agree on: a safe, legal, orderly path for those who want to come here to work, join family or seek asylum. A Texas-based guest worker program could meet critical labor needs in construction, agriculture and a number of other industries in Texas, supporting Texas businesses and our economy.

We could work with federal partners to lift the visa caps on countries like Mexico, where the wait-time to join family members today can take up to 20 years. And for asylum seekers, let’s fund more judges and administrators to adjudicate asylum claims far more quickly. Today, it can take 6 years. How about working to get it down to a matter of months?

When we ensure that those who come to our country follow our laws—and that our laws follow our values and economic needs—not only will we achieve much more for our fellow Texans, we will be far more successful at stopping drug traffickers and human smugglers who mean us harm.

That means we no longer have people coming in between ports of entry, crossing into the U.S. undocumented, risking their lives and putting extraordinary strain on Border Patrol agents and border communities. It means that we are safer, stronger, and more successful as a state.

We are better than this news. Now is the time to prove it.

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Posted in Accion, Democratic Stuff, Elections, Media, Republinuttiness, Sensible Immigration Reform, Texas Lege

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Thoughts on Viernes – 07082022

Posted on July 8, 2022 | 1 comment

Migrant Deaths Beyond The Trailer in SA

I came upon a report on FB regarding the bodies of migrants being found in Eagle Pass/Maverick County during this last fiscal year. In fact, the number of deaths this year alone number around seventy. Deaths are caused by dehydration because of the South Texas heat as they trek through farm and ranch land, or from drowning in the Rio Grande. Back in May, a dozen migrants were found in this same sector. Migrant deaths in this sector account for almost a third of all deaths.

So, as Greg Abbott sics his National Guard on helpless migrants escaping violence and poverty in their home countries, migrants will seek more dangerous routes to get here. They certainly aren’t stopping or returning on their own. Along with Abbott’s bigoted policies, The Biden Administration and Congress’s lack of action on immigration reform are the cause of these deaths. US – Latin America policy which supports right-wing governments like the one in El Salvador is at fault for migrants attempting to come to the US in the first place.

We are told to “vote in the next election.” But we voted in 2020. We got a Democratic majority and a Democratic President who promised action. Give us something for which to vote in 2022!

COVID-19 Denial

It seems so many are still in denial that the spread of COVID-19 continues to rise. Houston Health reported we are at 28% positivity. Hospitalizations continue to rise. I see more people I know getting infected, and some, re-infected. I’ll venture to say that these numbers rise because people are out in crowds unmasked. While the vaccination rate in Houston remains steady at around 68%, the re-opening of Texas has sent people into a state of irresponsibility. If you’re skinny and well-insured (and well-informed), the vaccinations and boosters will be a help. But as long as local government isn’t sounding alarms to help inform people of the current reality, then the infection rate will rise. At this point, I’m disappointed in local officials, and not just because some of them got (re-)infected.

The rest of you all, MASK UP. It may be the one thing that keeps you from getting infected, as the vaccination only helps with the symptoms at this point.

But, here’s the thing: So many Republicans and wealthy people whined that working from home would affect productivity. But everyone was working and the work got done. Now, workplaces are seeing increases in COVID-19 positivity, and people are staying home sick and not working. THIS is what affects productivity; not working from home! Anyway, mask up!

Greg Abbott and The People’s Money

Abbott sure knows how to throw other people’s money around, whether it is tax dollars or the money of his donors. In the case of our money, he has thrown $4 billion at the Texas border in what has been one big photo opportunity for himself. He recently announced he was sending another $30 million for his bigoted Operation Lone Pendejo, in which he purports to fight migrants. The money usually goes to overtime for local cops and toys with big tires. And since it comes from federal and state money in the form of law enforcement grants, there usually is no accountability. One would figure that legislators and the feds would ask for a full accounting of it. Hopefully, the Justice Department investigation will tell us what we already know–it’s all a boondoggle and a waste of money. But I’m not even hopeful of that.

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Posted in 2022, Accion, Cultura, Harris County, Health Care, History, Local Politica, Media, Texas Lege, U.S. Capitol

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Vigil in Remembrance of Migrant Deaths Held

Posted on June 29, 2022 | Comments Off on Vigil in Remembrance of Migrant Deaths Held

At FIEL HQ in Southwest Houston, a vigil was held to honor the 51 migrants who perished in a tractor trailer in San Antonio on Monday attempting to escape violence and poverty in their home countries and to seek a better life in the US. The message to the Biden administration and politicians was: Do Something!

While news media and those in political circles insist on making this about the human traffickers, the speakers at the vigil stated that it goes beyond the traffickers. It starts with a Democratic majority and President that has failed to pass an immigration reform, it includes the Texas Governor whose DPS, National Guard, and local law enforcement he has drafted failed at their job of stopping mass human smuggling while using hate speech to vilify migrants to appease his supporters. And it also includes the Mexican government who works under Biden administration orders to detain, warehouse, and deport migrants who cross over from Central American countries into Mexico. Together, these political systems force migrants to attempt crossing in the most dangerous of situations.

FIEL CEO Cesar Espinosa stated that among those who were being smuggled in a hot trailer were 22 Mexican citizens escaping poverty and violence.

The Mexican government has done little to nothing to stop violence in Mexico and corruption within individual state and local government runs rampant and uncontrolled. Unfortunately, most Mexicans escaping to the US will not qualify for asylum as they account for the least applications approved. But these 22 people tell us much about what is going in their regions. And, they’re coming. In other words, it’s not just about asylum applications. It’s about a broken immigration system that legitimately and illegitimately enriches those who enjoy the status quo.

Just a reminder: This is nothing new. Thousands have died attempting to cross rivers, deserts, and through armed resistance from military, law enforcement, and racist militias for years. And nothing has been done to ensure a safe journey for migrants.

It is time for Democrats to do away with the filibuster and pass legislation that protects migrants and creates a humane immigration system.

Comments Off on Vigil in Remembrance of Migrant Deaths Held

Posted in Accion, Cultura, Elections, Media, Sensible Immigration Reform

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