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LULAC Blames A Broken Immigration System For The Deaths Of Dozens Of Migrants Found In A Sealed Trailer In Texas

Nation's Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star Has Made Human Smuggling More Dangerous and Profitable

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement in the wake of at least 46 migrants found dead inside a trailer on a rural road on the southwest side of San Antonio, Texas. Sixteen other people were rushed to area hospitals suffering different levels of physical effects from their ordeal. Law enforcement sealed off the area, and few details were being released.

Domingo García – LULAC National President
The politics of President Trump and Governor Abbott to build the wall, deport them all, and Operation Lone Star have all been abysmal failures. Both Democrats and Republicans need to work together on a new bipartisan immigration bill. The reforms must allow us to bring in legal guest workers and open legal avenues for people to come in to help our economy. These steps will prevent these refugees and immigrants from being thrown into the hands of human smugglers and coyotes who are willing to risk the lives of others for a dollar, as well as American employers who want cheap labor that can be exploited. It's time for politicians in Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reforms to address these issues and avoid other tragedies. It's also time for the politicians in Austin to stop using immigrants as political piñatas and start treating them as people in this humanitarian crisis, not a police enforcement issue."

Lydia Guzman – LULAC National Immigration Chair
"This tragedy is only the latest case of unscrupulous coyotes putting profit over the lives of real human beings. Sadly, this is a result of our broken immigration system. The lack of real immigration reform puts migrants in danger of falling victims to unscrupulous smugglers."

Rodolfo Rosales, Jr. – Texas LULAC State Director
"These deaths are heartbreaking because far from the political narrative of dangerous criminals, those who have perished were coming here to work. It is sad when our country founded by immigrants now turns its back on them except when it suits us to exploit them with the lowest wages and the harshest work conditions."

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/