Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva
We cannot ignore the human tragedy and gruesome deaths of 50 migrants found in the back of tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas.
How many more human rights cruelties will our nation endure before we finally address our broken immigration system? The mass deaths of migrants seeking refuge in our country, regardless of immigration status, is nothing less than a national tragedy.
It’s a blatant reminder of the continued costs of militarized borders and xenophobic policies. Forced migration will continue to be driven by poverty, violence, political persecution, and climate change. Programs like Remain in Mexico and Title 42 only force migrants to make unimaginable choices.
Regrettably, thousands of migrants have suffered similar fates to those in Texas in years past in desperate attempts to flee their homes to seek the safety of our nation. Families ripped apart. Yet, we continue to do nothing to fix our immigration laws and little to address root causes.
Republicans in Congress have stood as a roadblock to fixing our broken system. Now it is time for Congress and the Biden administration to honor the memories of those who perished, their families and so many immigrants whose lives hinge on reforming our immigration system.
Those responsible for this latest tragedy must be held accountable and a full investigation must be completed. We must no longer be a nation that turns a blind eye on horrific human rights abuses enabled by our own failed policies.
Raúl M. Grijalva, U.S. Congressman, District 3 in Arizona, and Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. He also serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce and is the Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, as well as a long-standing member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
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