Reaction to death of migrants killed in crash

A number of church leaders, government officials and others are commenting on the death of the migrants near the Ozanam Center in Brownsville.

Statement from Bishop Daniel E. Flores

We mourn and are shocked by the horrific loss of the lives of the seven immigrant men
from Venezuela who were killed when a vehicle crashed into them this morning in
Brownsville. And we pray for several others who were injured and are in serious
condition.

This tragedy occurred this morning outside the Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center, a
place that has served the homeless and immigrants for decades. Over the past several
months in particular Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley has worked closely with
the Ozanam Center in Brownsville to help provide humanitarian aid to the immigrant
population as they seek shelter while making arrangements to meet with their families
further north. This is done as an assistance to, and with the cooperation of government
authorities.

The safety, protection and assistance of the immigrant men, women and children who
have been given permission to stay in the United States remains a priority for the Catholic
Diocese of Brownsville and for our generous staff and volunteers at Catholic Charities of
the Rio Grande Valley.

We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants, the poor, and
the vulnerable. Let us take extra steps as a local...