A roadside memorial honoring the 53 migrants who died in a tragic human smuggling incident near San Antonio in 2022 was recently vandalized, leaving the 53 crosses that make up the memorial destroyed. Angelina Olvera, who has been caring for the memorial since its creation, discovered the vandalism on Saturday morning.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg condemned the vandalism as an act of hate against the families of the deceased, and the local district attorney plans to prosecute the attack as a hate crime. The suspects responsible will face charges of criminal mischief and potential fines ranging from $2,500 to $30,000.
The memorial commemorates the deadliest human smuggling disaster in modern U.S. history, when 48 migrants from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala were found dead inside a shipping container due to the extreme heat. Five more migrants later died from their injuries.
Last week, two men linked to the smuggling were convicted and now face life in prison. This is not the first time the memorial has been targeted, as it was partially burned in November 2022.
The community continues to offer support to the families of the victims, and efforts are underway to restore and protect the memorial in honor of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
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