Three migrants, a woman and two children, drowned Saturday in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas – very recently the epicenter of the migrant crisis – just days after state authorities blocked the US Border Patrol from accessing miles of the US-Mexico border, according to a post on X by Rep. Henry Cuellar.

“This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility,” Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, said on X, formally known as Twitter.

The congressman said Border Patrol learned a group of six migrants were in distress in the Rio Grande at about 9 p.m. on Friday.

Border Patrol called the Texas Military Department, the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety but “were unsuccessful” at relaying the information by phone, Cuellar said in the social media post. Federal agents then went to the gate at Shelby Park, set up by Texas authorities, to provide the information, Cuellar said.

“However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants – even in the event of an emergency – and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation,” Cuellar said on X.

  • thefartographer@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    Shocking story from the state that gleefully kills mothers with their pregnancy nightmares.

    I sometimes question if I’m really having any true impact here. Am I really trying to shape the next generation to build a better tomorrow or am I just scared that I’m undereducated and unqualified to find employment in a better state?

    • NightAuthor@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Por que no los dos?

      I just moved out of state about a year ago, so far so great. But check back w me after I do my taxes.

      But honestly, if you can find work in Texas, you can probably find work elsewhere, and it will likely even pay better. Unless you’re in some Texas specific industry.

        • Ranvier@sopuli.xyz
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          10 months ago

          This is an important point.

          Here’s a map of tax burden by state:

          https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494

          Income tax isn’t everything.

          Even this map though isn’t quite telling the whole story. If you’re in a state like Texas relying on things like sales, excise, or other regressive taxes for the majority of tax revenue, lower income people will be paying a higher share than richer people. Income tax is progressive, so lower income people pay lower rates. Whereas your sales or excise or other regressive taxes are proportionally hitting lower income people more than higher income. So the states without income tax are often the hardest on people with low or middle incomes. Not to mention that taxes may be paying for a more robust social safety net that you may need at some point.

          • TheMusicalFruit@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            Great data thanks for sharing. I had to reference stats like this during a recent argument with family about taxes. The conservatives have done a great job convincing people that states like Texas and Florida are some sort of taxless wonderlands. We live in Pennsylvania, when I showed them that the Pennsylvania tax burden was lower than Texas in most metrics they shut up real fast. As we enter this election cycle, we all need to be backing our arguments with data like this. While they might not acknowledge they are wrong, it MIGHT get them thinking.

          • TigrisMorte@kbin.social
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            10 months ago

            “Income tax is progressive” should be, but the wealthy have been given break after break and loop holes to avoid paying making the Income Tax far more regressive than it was Sixty Years ago. Add in the no services as there isn’t money to pay for them and you’ve got the perfect environment for keeping wage slaves from gaining anything.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              10 months ago

              It’s funny how conservatives idolize the 1950s but never mention the top tax bracket in the 1950s was taxed at 91%.

      • Gingernate@programming.dev
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        10 months ago

        I moved out of Texas and pay less taxes. But there are a few higher states in the northeast I think, maybe NY not sure

    • yeather@lemmy.ca
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      10 months ago

      You’re more than likely making zero difference. The parents of the children will shape their minds more than one teacher depending on the grade. Especially at younger ages like 16- you have no impact on their political beliefs. If you have a teaching degree and are working in Texas you will be able to find a job in most other states, good luck.

        • yeather@lemmy.ca
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          10 months ago

          The person asked if they were making any difference educating children in Texas and making better people. My response was no unless you were dealing with students 16 and over and had a significant impsct on their lives in and out of the classroom. They then worried they were undereducated and underqualified to work in other states and I responded a teaching degree and experience in Texas would be plenty in any state. Finally i wished them good luck.

            • yeather@lemmy.ca
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              10 months ago

              Below that age you get to junior high or freshman year, you don’t really get the chance to communicate any political beliefs or sway any minds during those years. Below 16 and parental influence is also much stronger. When you hit 16, you get your license and usually more freedom from your parents. It also seemed in my experience when teachers would be more open to you about their own beliefs and have the ability to express why they think a certain way.