Activists hold vigil on U.S.-Mexico border; slam immigration policies after truck tragedy

Record ID: 1679480

  • Title: Activists hold vigil on U.S.-Mexico border; slam immigration policies after truck tragedy
  • Date: 1st July 2022
  • Summary: EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (JUNE 30, 2022) (REUTERS) ACTIVISTS, STANDING IN FRONT OF WHITE CRUCIFIXES, HOLDING BANNERS ACTIVISTS STANDING IN SUN UNDER UMBRELLAS ACTIVIST LOOKING ON BANNER THAT READS: ''Stop the immigration policies that kill migrants.'' WHITE CRUCIFIXES VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS HOLDING BANNERS WHILE STANDING NEXT TO CANDLES, CRUCIFIXES (SOUNDBITE) (English)
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2022 01:45
  • Keywords: Texas truck tragedy U.S.-Mexico border vigil
  • Location: EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • City: EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001879030062022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A number of immigrant activists held a vigil along the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday (June 30) to honour the victims of the migrant truck tragedy and the hundreds of migrants who die while trying to reach the United States.
    They stood in front of white crucifixes with candles.
    Holding up banners that read 'Stop the immigration policies that kill migrants,' and ''A stop to murderous migration policies,'' advocates blamed the migrant deaths on the ''militarization'' of the border and hardline immigration policies.
    The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday gave a major boost to President Joe Biden's drive to end a hardline immigration policy begun under his predecessor Donald Trump that forced tens of thousands of migrants to stay in Mexico to await U.S. hearings on their asylum claims.
    ''That's a small win. We are grateful but that's only not even the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more that needs to be done and Biden and the Democrats in Congress need to take action,'' said Ivonne Diaz, of the group Undocumented915.
    The justices, in a 5-4 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, overturned a lower court's decision requiring Biden to restart Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy after the Republican-led states of Texas and Missouri sued to maintain the program.
    The ruling bolsters Biden as he pursues what he calls a more "humane" approach at the southern border even as Republicans blame him for what they view as an immigration crisis.
    During the vigil, migrant Irma Licon said migrants did not travel to the U.S. to commit crimes but only intended to find work and send money back home.
    The number of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has reached record highs recently. Republicans contend that the "remain in Mexico" policy effectively deterred unlawful migration.
    (Production: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Alberto Fajardo, Geraldine Downer)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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