By Joel Langton
Some tragedies keep getting more tragic.
This story has been on my radar since Saturday, Jan. 9 and I’ve been thinking about the best format to tell it. The story has come to me in bits and pieces. Every time I get a little piece, I wince. It seems like it keeps getting worse.
Frankly, I’m not sure how to tell it. Since I pay the bills, I decided to put it in my “column” which will give me more freedom. Some stories have more nuances than, “Body found in river” headlines. This story deserves more.
There was a Haitian couple who were coming to America via Mexico. I really have no idea how they got this far, but there is no telling what they went through to get here.
The couple first popped up on my radar Saturday, Jan. 9, when a friend called and told me about a joint operation of the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol had going. They were working to recover a body about seven miles down river from the International Bridge that connects Del Rio and Acuna.
Of course, this wasn’t presented to me like a nice story or book even, it had to come out in pieces.
How awful, I thought. Poor Haitian girl drowned trying to get to America.
This was Saturday, Border Patrol sent out a press release with the following:
“On Jan. 8, agents assigned to U.S. Border Patrol’s Del Rio Station were notified by the Mexican Government of a possible drowning in the Rio Grande River. Agents responding to the scene recovered the body of a pregnant 33-year-old Haitian woman. Through further investigation, it was determined that her husband had drowned days earlier and was recovered by officials from the Government of Mexico.
So, the lady who drowned, was married to the guy who drowned trying to build a better life for their child they were going to bring into this world. Then, I got hold of a little more information that made it, a little more tragic.
It seemed like the couple were trying to get into America via the Weir Dam. I don’t know a lot about Weir Dams, except this one is about 250 yards north of the international bridge. It is a cement dam that crosses the Rio Grande.
I’ve been told that it seems like folks who want entrance to America might use this at times to cross. However, this couple tried it when the dam was underwater, and had been for a while.
So, moss, and green slime had grown all over it. The river at this spot is 412 feet across, according to Google maps.
Just 412 feet between them and America, a new life. If they can get across and dodge Border Patrol and other law enforcement, it means a brand new life for them and their little one. No more dirt floors, no more repressive regimes, they are living the American Dream, life is good.
You can go back and find Romeo and Juliet, or just pick your favorite tragic love story, this is it. Think about the one you love the most in the world! Are you going to hold their hand and try to cross a slippery concrete dam for a better life? Maybe, maybe not.
Reality is, some will question their judgement for putting their child at risk. I understand that as well. There are seldom perfect answers on the border.
The last hurdle was ease across this cement embankment and set your foot on the other side, dodge some agents and THEY ARE IN AMERICA. They had no idea what was really in front of them, but for now, this was it. Cross one cement dam, and they were set.
But, as you know, it didn’t work like that. I’m guessing here, one of them slipped. They really loved each other so much so the other wailed out, reached and tried to grab their co-parent’s hand. Grabbed it and were yanked off the cement slippery cement dam. Into the water they went. Doom.
Once you get caught in that whirlpool, from what I understand, you’re finished.
I’ve been told by folks in the know that they were watched trying to cross Dec. 29. Once they went off the dam, there wasn’t much anyone could do. So much for happily ever after. Hopefully, they went quick. To think about them flailing about for hours in the cold waters, well, that’s awful.
January 5, the body of the husband, Antonie Mateta Laurent, according to Mexico media, washed up on the southern side of the Rio Grande. His bride was found much further down the river the next day. When she was discovered, one body of water, one international boundary, separated their bodies. She was finally in America. Hubby could only wish.
Their dreams didn’t come true, their dreams ended. Sadly, this couple who loved each other enough to try to traverse a slippery cement embankment together are now separated in death.
He on the Mexico side, where a Ciudad Acuna funeral home paid for his burial. She is in America, the land of her dreams, probably destined for a pauper’s grave somewhere.
Sadly, doctors discovered that the first time parents were going to be parents of twins. Looks like this family will never be together again.
Proof that there are no easy answers on the border.
