(San Antonio, Texas)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) offers its deepest condolences to the families of the nearly 50 migrants whose lives were lost in a tractor-trailer on Monday in San Antonio, Texas. The ILRC stands in solidarity with partner organizations working to dismantle the anti-immigrant and racist policies put in place by Texas officials. We also call for an end to policies including Title 42 and ‘Migrant Protection Protocols (also known as Remain in Mexico) that are causing great harm to asylum seekers.
“Operation Lone Star, Migrant Protection Protocols, and other extremist policies are just vehicles of hate toward preventing migrants seeking to escape violence and other dire situations from accessing their right to seek asylum in the U.S.” said ILRC Policy Attorney and Strategist Priscilla Olivarez. “Rather than try to find compassionate and humane solutions to help migrants, Texas officials continue to show a complete disregard for life when it comes to Black and Brown people.”
We also call for humanitarian parole for the victims’ families, as well as giving the survivors of the tragedy T Visas.
“The Biden administration must be bolder in challenging these harsh and racist policies while offering short-term and long-term policies that welcome immigrants,” Olivarez said. “Reviving the same immigration policy playbook is not the answer. As witnessed from the 10 migrant lives lost in 2017 inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, and this most recent tragedy, without swift action more migrants will lose their lives.”
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC works to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. Follow us at www.ilrc.org, and on Twitter and Instagram @the_ILRC