At least seven people are dead and more than fifteen injured after a horrific car crash in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to local police, the driver, who has since been arrested, allegedly ran over more than a dozen people, including migrants, near the Ozanam Center in Brownsville, Texas.
Video of the aftermath of the crash showed numerous bodies disfigured, with the road and sidewalk covered in blood. The incident happened at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and is believed to have been intentional, according to Lt. Martin Sandoval of the Brownsville Police Department. The suspect is currently under guard at the hospital and is undergoing drug and alcohol tests.
The incident comes as the illegal immigration crisis on the U.S. border has worsened in recent weeks under President Joe Biden, with the Title 42 policy set to end this week. Despite the overwhelming influx of illegal aliens into border communities, the Biden administration has signaled this last week that it is committed to welcoming more migrants from Central America and providing technical support for “sending countries” to beef up their ability to facilitate migration.
The meeting between Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, and officials from Spain and Canada focused on expanding labor pathways that promote safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration, as well as creating economic and social opportunities and strengthening development options for the people of northern Central America and other countries in the Americas.
As a result, the U.S. is looking to increase the number of H–2 visas, which allows noncitizens to work in the U.S., by 25% for workers from Central America, meaning an increase in 25,000 workers. Additionally, the U.S. is allocating up to $65 million of taxpayer dollars to Central American nations to create a pilot grant program for agricultural employers to address labor instability and labor shortages.
The deadly crash in South Texas is a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost of illegal immigration and the need for the U.S. to ensure that its borders are secure. The Biden administration must prioritize the safety of American citizens, while still providing necessary aid and assistance to those in need.
