Community gathers to honor those killed, injured in human-smuggling tragedy

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio community is mourning the loss of 10 people found in a hot tractor-trailer Sunday morning.

A memorial continues to grow at the site where about 40 people met Wednesday evening to pray the rosary for those who were in the truck.

Candles, loaves of bread and water bottles filled the ground, highlighting the plight of an immigrant searching for a better life. 

Maria Garcia and Paty Montayo met while visiting the memorial and decided they wanted to do more.

RELATED: Human smugglers treat people like ‘container full of pencils,' ICE agent says

Montayo said it was a chance to pray for their immigrant brothers, who died trying to reach the American dream.

Garcia was heartbroken knowing people died of thirst only feet away from a store where water could be purchased.

"We're all human, we all deserve dignity, respect and compassion, regardless of what your legal status is. We’re all human, we all breathe the same air," she said.

THE WHOLE STORY

• Survivor in smuggling deaths shares harrowing details about truck, trip
• Trucking company tied to fatal immigrant smuggling deaths has history of legal problems
• Custom truck shop blasted online for selling big rig to human smuggling suspect, owner says
• Human smuggling suspect James M. Bradley could face death penalty, life in prison
• 10th victim dies in human smuggling case; suspect to appear in court
• Authorities identify suspect in smuggling case that killed 10
• ICE: 100+ people packed into sweltering big rig trailer, only 39 found
• Mexican Consulate to help ID victims in human smuggling case
• 'Tragedy came to our doorstep': Officials speak out on fatal human smuggling crime
• Smuggling victims found in sweltering trailer suffered 'unbearable' heat
• RAICES slams SAPD over human smuggling case, SAPD fires back
• Field behind Walmart could be path for undocumented immigrants, neighbor says

She hopes the vigil will send a message to the victims’ families that they are not alone. 

A separate group of community members has been meeting at 7 p.m. each night to pray at the site. It will continue to do so till the end of the week.

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