Journey For Justice Dec 3rd, Day 3 Brownsville to Higaldo to Del Rio

This morning, as the sun rose over the southern most tip of Texas at Boca Chica Beach and the Gulf of Mexico, we began our 15 day pilgrimage from Brownsville Texas to San Ysidro CA, all along the u.s. and Mexican border as we seek out information about the current status of refugees entering or attempting to enter the u.s., keep track of the border patrol and homeland security as well as the murders they have and are committing, connect with the various volunteer organizations and people who are providing services for refugees waiting on the Mexico side and those that have been able to touch u.s. soil.

Witness at the Border has planned this caravan and folks have come from several parts of the u.s. as well as the border towns. Today, some of us will pass over into Matamoros and witness the changes since the last time we were here before covid closed down the border.

Some will go to the bus station and greet refugees with food and toiletries and try to answer questions if possible.

Later in the afternoon, we headed off to Higaldo to the crossing where the young man from Cuba crossed the Rio Grande with four of his friends when the border patrol caught up with them, shot the young man once, and then continued to shoot again 4 more times in the back.

Only Marina and I didn’t make it to that gathering because when we got out of the truck, a car was idling next to us with two womyn sitting inside waiting to talk with us: one, very young, spoke English, the mother who was the driver, spoke Spanish.

They stopped us because they saw our message about ending violence against womyn and children. Maria was very distraught because her best friend, who did not speak English and was a refugee, was being beaten and threatened by her husband. With tears and shaky voices, they were so worried and feeling inadequate because the police were not helping nor did they know who to turn to.

I was scrambling to remember my contacts, although I did say we could go pick her up and I’d take her to a safe house. Unfortunately the womyn said her husband was home and she was terrified to leave while he was there. On top of that, recently another womon in hilgado was trying to leave her husband and he murdered her.

Thankfully, Maria didn’t have to suffer thru my terrible Spanish as my co-pilot Marina could speak with her. We didn’t know any resources there in Higaldo but we had google. I gave her the national domestic violence hotline but wondered if it still was working and more, did they have Spanish-speaking advocates.

Marina knew of individual womyn in Brownsville and Austin, her home town, who helped womyn escape and/or knew of resources for her.

Later we figured out that Mujeres Unidas had a chapter in McAllen, thank the goddesses. If she connects with them – and I sure hope they do – she will be taken care of. I’m not sure again if any of these agencies and services survived covid but I sure hope they did.

We headed on to Laredo and spent the night camping at Lake Casa Blanca State Park, which was beautiful. We actually drove around in circles, as the park was huge and signage poor so we couldn’t find the campground. Lucky for us, a ranger saw our lights and figure we were lost so he drove over and took us to the campground. He even sent another ranger over in the morning to make sure we were able to find our way out.

Journey For Justice December3rd, Day 3 Brownsville Gulf of Mexico to Higaldo TX

We begin our Journey for Justice caravan at the Gulf of Mexico just outside Brownsville/Matamoros.

Our Journey For Justice takes us next to Hilgado and the scene of this crime of 2021

A life was ended today by border patrol. A young 23 year old Cuban man attempted to enter the u.s. "illegally" so of course, we sanction the ending of his life for daring to try to come here.

Published by Anamaria Vasquez · 9m ·

Translation CUBAN MIGRANT DIES AFTER INCIDENT WITH BORDER PATROL AGENT

According to reports, the migrants stampeded and jumped into the Rio Grande, but the Cuban Diosmani Ramos Laurencio was intercepted right on the U.S. side of the river.

by Carlos Escorihuela

Diosmani Ramos Laurencio A Cuban migrant died after he was intercepted by the Border Patrol early Friday morning, January 29, 2021, along with four other migrants who entered the United States illegally from the city of Reynosa, Mexico.

According to reports, the migrants stampeded out and jumped into the Rio Grande, but Cuban national Diosmani Ramos Laurencio was intercepted right on the U.S. side of the river.

A Border Patrol officer allegedly fired a bullet into the Cuban migrant's chest, as he apparently tried to defend himself from the police with a stone, which he failed to throw. The incident occurred shortly before 4:00 a.m. on January 29.

After being wounded, the Cuban migrant tried to get up to flee, but the officer allegedly fired four more shots at him without any justification, even though the victim was lying helpless on the ground. CBP explained that the Cuban was transported to a hospital where he eventually died.

Cuban migrant's attempt to enter the U.S.

This Cuban migrant, who was 23 years old and a native of the Isle of Youth, had left Cuba with his wife in January 2020 for Cancun, Mexico. He then headed for the U.S.-Mexico border in order to seek asylum in the United States.

On several occasions he tried to enter the United States without success, which allegedly caused him to be threatened by a CBP officer.

Relatives of the Cuban migrant believe that the CBP officer abused the use of force and superiority to the extreme, as he apparently went on a rampage against the Cuban.

On the other hand, the CBP versions of the facts do not coincide in reality with the time and place where the events occurred.

Witnesses in situ indicate that the officer put both hands to his head, as if exclaiming: "WHAT HAVE I DONE", after firing his weapon against the Cuban migrant.