Washington, DC – This past weekend, violent tragedy struck two Texas towns – Allen and Brownsville. In Allen, eight people were killed and seven wounded in a shooting at an outlet mall. The victims were predominantly of Korean or Indian descent, and there is strong evidence to suggest that the shooter may have been motivated by far-right ideology. A day later in Brownsville, a driver plowed his car into pedestrians at a bus stop outside the Ozanam Center – a shelter for homeless people, and migrants – killing eight and injuring ten. Among the victims were migrants seeking refuge in the United States who were under the care and supervision of Customs and Border Patrol.
“We send our deepest condolences to the communities of Allen and Brownsville, and to the friends and families mourning the loss of their loved ones,” said RCUSA Executive Director John Slocum. “As we strive to bolster pathways to safety for those seeking refuge in the US, we must also consider what we can and must change in this country. Both of these tragedies point to the need to build safe, welcoming communities, and challenge bigoted rhetoric. No one residing in the US should have to live in fear of going to the mall, or standing at a bus stop. People seeking refuge – who are trying to rebuild their lives – should not have to fear for their physical safety in the US.”
Media Contact: Sarah Seniuk, sseniuk@rcusa.org
RCUSA is a diverse coalition advocating for just and humane laws and policies, and the promotion of dialogue and communication among government, civil society, and those who need protection and welcome. Individual RCUSA members do not all address all refugee-related issues, nor do all individual members approach common refugee-related issues identically.
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