SAN ANTONIO — A handful of San Antonians gathered for a memorial to remember the migrants who’ve lost their lives at the Texas-Mexico border.
“There’s like different names on the crosses,” community organizer Rachel Campos said. “And there’s also crosses that don’t have no names because those are the unknown.”
According to the International Organization for Migration, the U.S.-Mexico border was the “deadliest land route for migrants worldwide.” For Rachel Campos, migrants dying should alarm all Texans.
“There’s no way that I can sit here and just be still and not do anything to bring awareness to our community,” Campos said.
Each year migrants die passing through deserted areas in extreme weather or during transport while being smuggled illegally into the U.S. Campos is critical of the Operation Lone Star measures Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says will decrease the number of migrants entering the state illegally.
“I feel like it’ll bring division within our communities,” Campos said.
Senate Bill 4 is the latest attempt by the governor to slow illegal migration. It is set to go into effect in March, allowing state and local authorities to arrest anyone they suspect is here illegally. Which has Campos worried about racial profiling.
“As long as they suspect, what does that really look like?” Campos questioned.
A new law already in effect makes smuggling migrants or operating a stash house punishable by a minimum 10-year prison sentence.
“Human smuggling arrest, over 7,000 last year alone,” attorney Javier Olivia said. “So we know people are coming to the border. We know people are being smuggled in. And this is a really big concern for the safety of our community.”
Javier Olivia is a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He’s practiced law for decades, and says with SB4 Texas is reaching into federal territory.
“The law is problematic because it takes over the responsibility or shares the responsibility that the federal government has been delegated to handle,” Olivia said.
Olivia says it’s on the federal government to protect our borders and determine who can legally enter the U.S. He questions the legality of officers randomly checking people’s citizenship and says Texas isn’t equipped to handle these arrests.
“To make arrest without any lawful basis other than their appearance,” Olivia said. “Which creates legal problems because we can’t really differentiate in south Texas particularly, the difference between someone who is here legally or not.”
The Department of Justice has already filed a lawsuit against Texas for SB4 immigration policies. But Olivia says Congress’ inaction isn’t helping with the emergency at the border.
“We should have laws. Even if you can’t agree on all of it, it should not be an all-or-nothing proposition,” Olivia said. “And too many times now in Washington, the negotiations, it’s all or nothing. That doesn’t serve the American people.”
As a nation of immigrants, Campos hopes folks are paying attention and show some concern for those seeking asylum at the border.
“It’s all about love and compassion and empathy,” Campos said.