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Truck drives into migrant shelter near southern Texas border, 8 killed

A Range Rover drove into a shelter for migrants and homeless people in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday morning killing seven people and injuring at least 10 more. File photo courtesy of Simaah/Pixabay
A Range Rover drove into a shelter for migrants and homeless people in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday morning killing seven people and injuring at least 10 more. File photo courtesy of Simaah/Pixabay

May 7 (UPI) -- A Range Rover drove into a shelter for migrants and homeless people in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday morning, killing at least eight people and injuring 10 more.

The incident happened at about 8:30 a.m. at a bus stop near the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center in Brownsville. The driver of the vehicle reportedly gestured at a group of people who were near the curb and hurled insults at them before barreling toward them, NBC 23 Valley Central reports.

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The driver of the vehicle was detained by civilians until officers arrived on the scene, CNN reports. The driver received medical care before being arrested and charged with reckless driving. Brownsville Police Department Lt. Martin Sandoval said more charges are likely.

Sandoval described the driver as a Hispanic man. His name has not been released.

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He told The New York Times that seven of those struck "were dead on the spot," with his department stating Sunday night that an eighth person had died.

Cameron County Judge Eddie TreviƱo Jr. described the scene as "very graphic" to The New York Times.

"They looked like very serious injuries," he said. "It's a tragedy either way, but if it was intentional, it's worse."

The FBI is among the agencies investigating the incident. It has not been determined whether or not it was intentional.

Brownsville is located along the southeastern border of Texas and Mexico. More than 95% of Brownsville's population is Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2022 census by the U.S. Census Bureau. Its estimated population as of July 1, 2021 was 187,831.

The Ozanam Center, which was founded by the Diocese of Brownsville, can house and feed some 200 people, according to its website.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores said late Sunday that the victims were from Venezuela.

"We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants, the poor and the vulnerable," Flores said in a statement. "Let us take extra steps as a local community to care for and protect one another, especially the most vulnerable."

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The incident occurred amid worsening political tensions in the state as fears rise over an anticipated surge in migrants and asylums seekers attempting to enter the United States once a COVID-19-era health measure that barred entry to millions of them expires Thursday.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been in a feud with the Biden administration over the White House's immigration policies and has bussed migrants and asylum seekers from his state to Democratic cities in protest.

President Joe Biden has also unveiled a series of immigration policy changes ahead of the end of Title 42, including a new rule denying entry to all whom attempt to enter the country through an unapproved path. Critics have described it as an illegal ban on refugees from seeking asylum.

Oni Blair, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the incident Sunday comes amid an escalating anti-immigrant sentiment in Texas.

"President Biden, Texas Gov. Abbott and other elected officials continue to spread fear about immigration instead of treating the needs of people crossing the border as a humanitarian matter," Blair said in a statement. "We call on federal, state and local governments to take immediate action to protect migrants and to lead with compassion.

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That includes ensuring witnesses of the alleged attack can come forward without fear of deportation or reprisals."

Sandoval said in a video posted to Facebook that Minnesota, N. Bernal and Austin Rd. will remain closed for several hours.

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