SAPD said they believed it was an intentional act against the memorial.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio memorial honoring the victims of the Quintana Road smuggling tragedy has been fixed, two days after vandals reportedly desecrated the area.
It’s been nearly three years since the June 27, 2022 incident – now considered the deadliest human smuggling event in U.S. history after 53 migrants died of heat stroke after being transported to San Antonio on a semitruck without working air conditioning. Only 14 people survived the brutal conditions.
During that time, Angie Olivera has worked to ensure the migrant victims are remembered. She helps maintain the makeshift memorial organized in their honor – 53 crosses, one for each person who died.
But she arrived to the southeast-San Antonio memorial Saturday morning to find 51 of the 53 crosses damaged and lying on the ground.
According to a report, San Antonio police officers were called to the 9600 block of Quintana Road for a criminal mischief report. Officers found several of the crosses knocked over. SAPD said they believed it was an intentional act against the memorial.
Police believe the damage was caused between 11 p.m. Friday and 8:45 a.m. Saturday. It is currently an ongoing investigation.
The Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office released a statement on Facebook, saying that “this vile hate crime will not go unpunished.”
Olivera also believed the crosses were knocked down intentionally, saying they managed to remain upright against strong winds in recent weeks. She also said other aspects of the memorial were visibly destroyed, including holes puncturing a board with pictures of the victims, the youngest of which was 13 years old. The “official” stone memorial wall nearby showed no signs of damage.
The site has been vandalized previously, including in November 2022 when a woman admitted to setting part of the memorial on fire.
Last week, a federal jury convicted two men for their roles in the 2022 smuggling tragedy. Several others had already pleaded guilty, and another alleged conspirator appeared in federal court last week after being extradited to the U.S.
If you’d like to donate towards the maintenance and care of this memorial, please visit their GoFundMe.