Houstonians react to immigration deaths in San Antonio

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - In a city teeming with immigrants, both with and without documentation, there is shelter, wages and education to be found, all with few, if any, questions.

But for those without papers - the real danger lies in getting here.

Roberto Martinez lives here legally now, but years ago made the same perilous journey from the border that ended so many lives in San Antonio.

With the aid of an interpreter - he spoke of people who have little choice.

"If you are coming from Central America, it's a matter of life and death since there is a lot of violence from those countries," said Martinez, a native of Mexico.

Martinez says the lives lost within the sweltering trailer have been preceded by the loved ones of many of his friends - immigrants who bet their lives on something better here and lost.

"It is a very deep sadness that I have, Honestly, its hard to describe with any word how deep this is," said Martinez.

Longtime Latino activist Johnny Mata believes many more will perish and with them, untold potential, unless the nation embraces the necessity of reforming immigration laws.

"To have something like this happen, it tears your heart apart. I just wish a lot of our Americans will see compassion in their hearts and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform," said Mata.

The U.S. Government reports 6,023 immigrant deaths along the border between 2000 and 2016.