Pope saddened by death of
migrant father, baby at US-Mexico border
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| The Bodies of a father and his daughter are seen in the Rio Grande River |
Pope Francis is profoundly saddened by the death of two
migrants – a father and his baby daughter – who drowned in the Rio Grande while
attempting to cross into the US from Mexico.
By Vatican News
“With immense sadness, the Holy Father has seen the images
of the father and his baby daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande River while
trying to cross the border between Mexico and the United States.”
Alessandro Gisotti, the ad interim Director of the Holy See
Press Office, gave that statement Wednesday in response to journalists’
questions.
“The Pope is profoundly saddened by their death, and is
praying for them and for all migrants who have lost their lives while seeking
to flee war and misery,” he added.
Salvadorian migrants
Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez, 25, and his daughter
Valeria, 23-months-old, drowned in the Rio Grande River on Sunday, as they
attempted to reach the United States.
The lifeless bodies of the two migrants from El Salvador
washed ashore on the Mexican side of the border, in Matamoros, in Tamaulipas
state, across from Brownsville, Texas.
They were found on Monday just one kilometer from an
international bridge.
What happened?
A reporter for La Jornada, Julia Le Duc, said Mr. Martinez
Ramirez arrived in Matamoros on Sunday with his wife, Vanessa Avalos, and
daughter, Valeria.
The reporter witnessed Mrs. Avalos give her account to the
police.
She said the family had hoped to request asylum from US
authorities but that Mr. Martinez Ramirez decided to swim across when he found
out it could take weeks before they could even start the process.
“He crossed first with the little girl and he left her on
the American side. Then he turned back to get his wife, but the girl went into
the water after him. When he went to save her, the current took them both,” Le
Duc told the Guardian.
Deadly crossings
Dozens of people have died already this year attempting to
cross the Rio Grande – known as the Rio Bravo in Mexico.
On Sunday, two infants, a toddler, and a woman were found dead
from heat exhaustion in Anzalduas Park, in the southern Texas city of Mission.
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