Juan Lopez Gonzalez was a 41-year-old father and loving husband from Colonia San Cayetano, Municipio del Bosque located in Chiapas, Mexico. Juan was a family man with four children, ages 2 to 18. He decided to migrate to the U.S in order to help pay for his family’s debt and to provide a better future for his kids.

Juan began his journey with his brother and nephew, as they traveled to Tijuana and joined another group to attempt to cross the desert. His goal was to make it to Santa Rosa, CA, and work in the grape field as an agricultural worker. Unfortunately, during the hike, Juan began feeling bad and ultimately passed away. His brother and nephew stayed with him during his passing, and remained with his body, ultimately turning themselves over to Border Patrol. They were later deported back to Mexico.

Through our Volviendo a Casa program, we were able to coordinate with the Mexican consulate to pay for funeral expenses so that his family may say their final goodbyes. May he Rest in Peace.

We are devastated at the loss of another life; we continue to denounce the many policies at work at our southern border, which are the root cause of these tragedies, and continue to provide humanitarian aid to those crossing in hopes of preventing more deaths.

You can donate to this program here.

2 children dead, baby in critical condition after attempted border crossings
Two children are dead and a baby is in critical condition after being pulled from the Rio Grande during separate attempts to cross into the United States from Mexico on Monday, officials said. A 3-year-old boy died and a 2-month-old baby was taken to hospital in critical condition after they were pulled from the river Monday afternoon, Eagle Pass Fire Department Chief Manuel Mello said in a statement.

Mello said the children were being "brought across" the river as part of a group of migrants when the incident unfolded. It occurred around 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) on Monday, according to WOAI-TV, an NBC affiliate based in San Antonio.

Mello said Border Patrol agents were close by when the incident unfolded and assisted with the rescue. By the time fire rescue arrived on the scene, CPR was already being administered by agents, Mello said. The 3-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene, while the baby boy was transferred to a San Antonio hospital, Mello said.

Mexico’s National Immigration Institute said a 5-year-old girl also drowned while attempting to cross the Rio Grande to enter Texas on Monday.

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