By Cameron Vickrey

There seems to be an assumption that fewer people will choose to emigrate from their homes in the wake of tragic migrant deaths they hear about along with us in the news. But these tragedies should not be used by politicians as a deterrence method. First of all, it doesn’t work. Secondly, it’s callous and inhumane.

I was complaining to Stephen about this the other day. I was reading him another news report about 17 Haitian migrants who died over the weekend, including a toddler, trying to make it to the U.S. I said to him, “I feel like this keeps happening without an adequate response. It makes me wonder if anyone really cares.”

Does anyone care that migrants are dying in massive numbers just seeking a better life? Admittedly, asking that question is pessimistic, whiny, and overused (especially by bleeding-heart liberals). But sadly it is a question I have asked a few times recently. You might ask it sometimes too, about the war in Ukraine, or wildfires in California, or mass shootings.

The answer is yes, people do care. But there are too many who don’t, and they make me wonder if perhaps these ever-more-recurring instances of migrant deaths aren’t but a tragic political convenience. Fewer immigrants to deal with in the end, and maybe a warning to others.

After all, migrants choose to embark on a dangerous journey despite knowing the dangers. So far no political policy has succeeded in keeping them away, even possible death. Reuters reports , “Last year was the deadliest for migrants crossing the border, with 728 fatalities recorded by the United Nations, which started counting in 2014. The U.N. has counted 340 more this year, apace with 2021’s grim record.” Migrant deaths will continue to increase at the same rate as our deterrence policies. When we make it harder to come, they will come anyway, come hell or high water, hot deserts or rushing rivers.

Jason Buch of the Texas Observer writes, “The U.S. immigration enforcement system has operated under a single premise since the creation of the Border Patrol in 1924: deterrence. It’s the idea we can somehow make coming to this country more miserable than the natural disasters, civil wars, gang violence, and economic hardship that displace people in the first place.”  

For example, one of the communities struck by the San Antonio tractor-trailer tragedy was Nahualá, Guatemala. The Texas Tribune published a story from Plaza Pública, reporting on the death of Juan Wilmer Tulul Tepaz, a 15-year-old boy who died in the trailer.

Kimberly Rocío López writes:

There hasn’t been a campaign or migratory policy that has been able to persuade people not to risk their lives crossing the border. There is no message that can extinguish the desire to seek a better life.

Juan Wilmer’s cousin Cristina said that despite the intense grief and mourning surrounding them in Nahualá, another group of local youths began their own journey north last week.

Cristina is certain of one thing. Neither the tragic deaths of Juan Wilmer, Johny and Melvin, nor the recent drowning of Griselda and Carla Tambriz, two young sisters also from Nahualá who died as they tried to cross the U.S. border, can stop the flow of people leaving to the U.S.

In spite of the devastating deaths, Cristina predicts that children, teenagers and young adults will continue dreaming of a better future far from their village.

We can’t blame these tragedies on (false) open-border policies like Texas Governor Abbott does, and we can’t blame them solely on smugglers and human traffickers like President Biden did after the San Antonio tractor-trailer incident. If we want to play the blame game politicians play after tragedies like this, blame access to safe immigration pathways. Blame our willingness to allow a dysfunctional immigration system to continue.

The least we can do on their behalf is decrease deterrence methods that don’t achieve their stated purpose. And even better—we can offer hospitality and welcome and compassion for the weary and oppressed.

I find great comfort and inspiration in knowing that there are indeed many who care about migrants and do respond adequately in an effort to reduce their dangers. A few who come to mind (and this is not an exhaustive list):

1. Journalists, like the ones quoted above, and the many others who devote their days and risk their lives to tell the stories of others and keep us from looking away.

2. Pastors on the border, like the ones Fellowship Southwest supports: Juvenal, Rosalío, Israel, Lorenzo, Carlos and Eleuterio. Read more about each of them here.

3. Advocates, justice organizations and politicians who are persistently trying to make things better for immigrants and refugees.

So let’s carry on in compassion and justice. Let’s keep advocating for immigration reform, and push back against deterrence policies and xenophobic rhetoric. Let’s keep telling the stories that migrants face in their journey, and keep serving migrants alongside the pastors, nuns, volunteers, advocates and donors who devote themselves to this work. Let’s remember who we serve, and who we worship: Jesus the Crucified One, who is always on the side of the oppressed.

Cameron Vickrey is the director of communications and development for Fellowship Southwest.