USCCB Chairman Mourns for Migrants Involved in Texas Tragedy

WASHINGTON—Bishop Joe S. Vásquez ofAustin, Texas, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB)Committee on Migration, has issued the following statement on San Antonio lawenforcement's identification of a tractor trailer containing 39 people,including ten individuals who died due to hea

WASHINGTON—Bishop Joe S. Vásquez ofAustin, Texas, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB)Committee on Migration, has issued the following statement on San Antonio lawenforcement's identification of a tractor trailer containing 39 people,including ten individuals who died due to heat exposure and asphyxiation.

Full statement follows:

My brother bishops and I are heartbrokenby the news coming from San Antonio regarding individuals found dead in a crowdedand overheated tractor trailer. I also note our continued concern and prayersfor the several other individuals identified, including school-aged children,who are reported to have life-threatening injuries. The loss of lives is tragicand avoidable. We condemn this terrible human exploitation that occurred andcontinues to happen in our country. In a moment such as this, we reflect uponthe words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, "The defense of human beings knowsno barriers: we are all united wanting to ensure a dignified life for everyman, woman and child who is forced to abandon his or her own land."

We together mourn for the lives lost andoffer our prayers for these individuals and their families.

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Keywords: USCCB, U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops, Committee on Migration, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez, Committee onMigration, migrants, tragedy, exploitation, Pope Francis, human life, dignity

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