Austin, TX — Earlier this week, the San Antonio Express News published a story including horrific details of Texas troopers told to push children into the Rio Grande, and deny water to migrants. The article highlighted the inhumane practices of Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. It cited multiple instances of migrants caught and injured in razor wires along with commands given to enforcement officials to push migrants into the traveled bodies of water and deny drinking water to migrants.
Juan Jose Martinez-Guevera, Texas Advocacy Manager of United We Dream, said:
“Gov. Greg Abbott’s practices are cruel, dehumanizing, and alarming and must be put to an end immediately. These vile actions go against the beliefs and values of a majority of Texans across the state that welcome immigrants as neighbors and friends. We must ensure that we are embracing and protecting everyones’ freedom to move with dignity.
These harmful actions are all part of Gov. Abbott’s intentional attempt to take away dignity and humanity from people who are moving to the U.S. in search of opportunity. They are the realization of years of dangerous, dehumanizing, anti-immigrant rhetoric. The pregnant woman, teenage boy, and group of small children and babies, all referenced in the article, have the right to move without violence inflicted upon them.
Everyone should condemn these actions. We expect President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to take appropriate steps to investigate and correct the treatment of migrants at our borders and offer relief to those who have suffered from the actions of Governor Abbott.”
