Brownsville driver who hit crowd of asylum seekers charged with manslaughter : NPR

Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda speaks at a news conference Monday in Brownsville, Texas.

AFP via Moises Avila/Getty Images


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AFP via Moises Avila/Getty Images

Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda speaks at a news conference Monday in Brownsville, Texas.

AFP via Moises Avila/Getty Images

Texas police have identified 34-year-old George Alvarez as the driver who rammed a group of people near an immigrant shelter on Sunday morning.

Eight people were killed and 10 injured in the crash in Brownsville, Texas, a city of approximately 187,000 people on the U.S.-Mexico border. The incident occurred around 8:30 am on Sunday at a bus stop outside the Ozanham Center.

police Alvarez was initially charged with reckless drivingBut Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said Monday morning that authorities had charged him with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“The investigation found that the SUV ran a red light, lost control, rolled over and hit a total of 18 people,” he said.

Sauceda said authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the crash was intentional, and that police are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether Alvarez was injured.

Alvarez, a Brownsville local who said Sauceda had a “massive rap sheet,” apparently tried to flee after punching the group, but was held down by several bystanders. I was.

All the victims were men, and at least some were from Venezuela.

Victim sought asylum in US, local aid worker says

Victor Maldonado, executive director of the Ozanam Center, said in an email Monday morning that those killed and wounded were asylum seekers.

“They came looking for shelter. They stayed in our shelter because they arrived in this country with very little,” Maldonado said.

“While it is unclear what led to this tragedy, it is clear that the victims who were taken to hospital, as well as the families of those killed, will need help in the coming days to deal with the horrific events. I already know.

You can seek asylum in the United States if you fear persecution in your home country because of your social characteristics, such as race, religion, or political opinion. According to the US Refugee Council.

Maldonado said the shelter had already received “a large number of hateful messages” and the main focus now is to provide counseling to witnesses and survivors, including children.

Immigration policy is in the news before Title 42 expires

Monday morning, the day after the crash, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference Discuss what states have been doing to reduce illegal immigration across the border with Mexico.

Abbott also criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies. title 42.

The policy, which is set to end this week, is a public health measure linked to the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed the government to expel asylum seekers at its southern border.

Responding to questions from reporters about the deadly incident in Brownsville, Abbott said local officials will release more information on Monday about whether the driver deliberately drove into the victim. Abbott’s appearance preceded a press conference in Brownsville.

Abbott criticized Just a week ago, a spokesperson later said, for calling the five victims of the recent Texas shooting “illegal immigrants.” comment back“[w]It would be a shame if the information was incorrect and detracted from the important goal of finding and apprehending the perpetrators. ”

The incident rocked the border city of Brownsville

A community mass was held on Sunday near where the crash occurred, and two vigils were planned for Monday. Texas Public Radio reported.

“As an advocate for immigrant rights and as a Brownsville resident, I can’t put into words the pain I feel hearing this morning’s news,” said Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project. . said in a tweet on sunday.

Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville’s Catholic Diocese, said the Ozanham Center has been serving immigrants and the homeless for decades, and the diocese will continue to care for those who have been allowed to stay in the United States by the government. .

“We must resist the corrupt trend that downplays the lives of immigrants, the poor and the vulnerable,” said Flores. said in a statement“As local communities, let us take special steps to care for each other and protect, especially the most vulnerable.”

The Ozanum Center is five miles from the migrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico.



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Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda speaks at a news conference Monday in Brownsville, Texas.

AFP via Moises Avila/Getty Images

hide caption

toggle caption

AFP via Moises Avila/Getty Images

Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda speaks at a news conference Monday in Brownsville, Texas.

AFP via Moises Avila/Getty Images

Texas police have identified 34-year-old George Alvarez as the driver who rammed a group of people near an immigrant shelter on Sunday morning. Eight people were killed and 10 injured in the crash in Brownsville, Texas, a city of approximately 187,000 people on the U.S.-Mexico border. The incident occurred around 8:30 am on Sunday at a bus stop outside the Ozanham Center. police Alvarez was initially charged with reckless drivingBut Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said Monday morning that authorities had charged him with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. “The investigation found that the SUV ran a red light, lost control, rolled over and hit a total of 18 people,” he said.

Sauceda said authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the crash was intentional, and that police are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether Alvarez was injured. Alvarez, a Brownsville local who said Sauceda had a “massive rap sheet,” apparently tried to flee after punching the group, but was held down by several bystanders. I was. All the victims were men, and at least some were from Venezuela. Victim sought asylum in US, local aid worker says Victor Maldonado, executive director of the Ozanam Center, said in an email Monday morning that those killed and wounded were asylum seekers.

“They came looking for shelter. They stayed in our shelter because they arrived in this country with very little,” Maldonado said. “While it is unclear what led to this tragedy, it is clear that the victims who were taken to hospital, as well as the families of those killed, will need help in the coming days to deal with the horrific events. I already know. You can seek asylum in the United States if you fear persecution in your home country because of your social characteristics, such as race, religion, or political opinion. According to the US Refugee Council. Maldonado said the shelter had already received “a large number of hateful messages” and the main focus now is to provide counseling to witnesses and survivors, including children. Immigration policy is in the news before Title 42 expires Monday morning, the day after the crash, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference Discuss what states have been doing to reduce illegal immigration across the border with Mexico. Abbott also criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies. title 42. The policy, which is set to end this week, is a public health measure linked to the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed the government to expel asylum seekers at its southern border.

Responding to questions from reporters about the deadly incident in Brownsville, Abbott said local officials will release more information on Monday about whether the driver deliberately drove into the victim. Abbott’s appearance preceded a press conference in Brownsville. Abbott criticized Just a week ago, a spokesperson later said, for calling the five victims of the recent Texas shooting “illegal immigrants.” comment back”[w]It would be a shame if the information was incorrect and detracted from the important goal of finding and apprehending the perpetrators. ” The incident rocked the border city of Brownsville A community mass was held on Sunday near where the crash occurred, and two vigils were planned for Monday. Texas Public Radio reported. “As an advocate for immigrant rights and as a Brownsville resident, I can’t put into words the pain I feel hearing this morning’s news,” said Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project. . said in a tweet on sunday. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville’s Catholic Diocese, said the Ozanham Center has been serving immigrants and the homeless for decades, and the diocese will continue to care for those who have been allowed to stay in the United States by the government. . “We must resist the corrupt trend that downplays the lives of immigrants, the poor and the vulnerable,” said Flores. said in a statement“As local communities, let us take special steps to care for each other and protect, especially the most vulnerable.” The Ozanum Center is five miles from the migrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico.

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/08/1174779583/brownsville-texas-crash-crowd-driver-charged Brownsville driver who hit crowd of asylum seekers charged with manslaughter : NPR

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