The Del Rio Migrant Crisis & Ways you can help our Haitian Brothers/Sisters.
If you have been following the news media, U.S. law enforcement has been receiving backlash for their efforts in controlling the U.S.-Mexico border from thousands of Haitian migrants (I will refer to using “people”). Many Haitians said that their squalid encampment under a bridge on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande river was short of food and supplies and they often travelled in Mexico to purchase items. More than 12,000 Haitians have been gathering under the Del Rio bridge in search of food/shelter while waiting on the immigration processing.
Things took a quick turn when U.S. officials dismissed Haitians from coming back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico border. Images and videos taken by journalists show agents on horseback charging and herding people from attempting to cross the Rio Grande, even using whips to terrify them. Nicole Morgan, an attorney with RAICES, said that “The dehumanizing and abusive treatment by the government through the use of legislative and police powers is not new to Black people in America.”
The controversy comes as the federal government sent reinforcements to Del Rio to deal with Haitian people camped under the international bridge connecting the city with Mexico, hoping to request asylum in the U.S. Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting that the federal government issue an emergency declaration for Texas because of the growing number of people under the Del Rio bridge. Abbott also announced $100 million in state grants for municipal governments along the border to beef up law enforcement operations and help cover the costs of detaining and prosecuting people.
These recent events have been tiring and another indication on how corrupt the U.S. government is when it comes to common humanity for minorities. It is important for us to continue to push past the negativity and unlawful acts and find ways to help assist our people. If you are not in the Texas area, I’ve included a list of organizations that you can use to help send relief to our fellow Haitian brothers/sisters:
Hope for Haiti https://hopeforhaiti.com/
CARE https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=30202&mfc_pref=T&30202.donation=form1
Ayiti Community Trust https://ayiticommunitytrust.org/
Partners in Health https://www.pih.org/article/haiti-earthquake-updates?form=Haiti-Earthquake
Convoy of Hope https://convoyofhope.org/donate/disaster-services/haiti-earthquake-2021
Praying endlessly for my Haitian brothers & sisters!
