Texas memorial for immigrants

Two years ago, on May 14, 2003, 19 immigrants died from dehydration, hypothermia and suffocation in the back of a tractor-trailer carrying more than 70 people from Harlingen, Texas—near the Mexico border—en route to Houston. This year on May 14, some 75 people caravaned from Houston to Victoria to remember and honor them and to demand immigration reform.

Alma Diaz speaking. Right, Martha Olvera, Serafin Olvera Justice committee.

Families of those who died and immigrant rights activists gathered early at the office of the Salvadoran organization CRECEN. They painted slogans in English and Spanish on their cars with white shoe polish that read, “Justice for immigrants,” “No more immigrant deaths” and “Stop the border violence!”

The car caravan was seen by many as it left Houston, winding its way through the Latino community onto U.S. Highway 59 for the 120-mile trip.

Television network Univisión, El Día— Houston’s daily Spanish-language newspaper—and other media joined in the caravan.

After the caravan arrived in Victoria, family members and activists created a memorial on the ground with tall jars of candles, one for each of those who died, each holding the flag of their homeland: Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

At the rally, organizer Martha Olvera introduced representatives of several of the families who had lost loved ones in the tragedy. They spoke quietly and humbly, remembering their husbands, fathers and brothers.

“My son Jorge died right here. He was only 15 years old,” said Dora Torres, speaking softly in Spanish. She had come to Texas from New York to bring fresh flowers to the spot where the teenager died. Torres, who is originally from El Salvador, also came to last year’s memorial.

Activist Cristobal Hinojosa, with Mexicanos en Acción, told the crowd that these deaths should not be blamed on Tyrone Williams, the driver of the truck, but on the U.S. government, which denies most Mexicanos legal entry.

Williams was tried and convicted last month in federal court in Houston. Pro secutors were seeking the death penalty but the jury deadlocked during the sentencing. The U.S. Attorney General has announced plans to re-try Williams and again ask for the death penalty.

Another rally speaker, María Jiménez—a member of the board of directors of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights—urged people to press Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package.

Other speakers included the consul general of Mexico, Carlos Gonzáles; Alma Díaz, of Latinos Por La Paz; and Angela Mejía, a member of LACLA, the Latin American Council for Labor Advance ment, and the Harris County AFL-CIO.