NO MIGRANTS should die upon entering the United States, the Episcopal Church there has said, as it mourned the deaths of 51 migrants found this week in the back of a truck in San Antonio, Texas.
Two men, both Mexican nationals, have been charged in connection with the incident.
The migrants were discovered after a worker in a building near by heard someone shouting for help from an abandoned trailer. Police found bodies piled up inside in sweltering heat, with no sign of water, and no functioning air conditioning. Sixteen people, including children, were pulled out alive, suffering from heat exhaustion, and taken to hospital.
Some reports suggest that those who died include migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The Episcopal Church’s office of government relations issued a statement: “The Episcopal Church mourns the horrific and preventable tragedy in San Antonio. We pray for those who lost their lives and their families. These deaths should never have happened nor the deaths of any migrants attempting to arrive to the United States.”
It called for a “just asylum system and humane treatment for all migrants”.
“The Church recognises the links between migrants in vulnerable transit situations, human trafficking, and other dangers, and is committed to working to establish and maintain robust, safe, and orderly routes for refugees.”
The Pope expressed his sorrow at the deaths in a Twitter post: “I sorrowfully heard the news of the tragedy of the #migrants in Texas and #Melilla. Let us #PrayTogether for these brothers and sisters who died following their hope of a better life; and for ourselves, may the Lord might open our hearts so these misfortunes never happen again.”
The Republican Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, blamed President Biden’s administration for being too lenient towards migrants crossing the border into the US.
President Biden issued a statement condemning people-smugglers, and those who seek to make political capital from the tragedy. “Initial reports are that this tragedy was caused by smugglers or human traffickers who have no regard for the lives they endanger and exploit to make a profit,” he said.
“Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry.”