On May 6th, 2023, George Alvarez, 34, killed eight people and injured at least ten others when he plowed into a crowd of migrants. The victims were waiting at a bus stop near Ozanam Center, a migrant facility in Brownsville. Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said authorities are investigating and have not ruled out the possibility that the crash was intentional. Reporters at a news conference Monday said that Alvarez ran a red light and lost control of the vehicle, which flipped on its side and struck 18 people. Alvarez tried to flee, but was held down by pedestrians until authorities arrived. He did not cooperate with officials. He is currently on a $3.6 million bail. 

Alvarezs’ criminal history includes two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of assault against an elderly or disabled person, four counts of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and at least 11 other charges. In an interview, a migrant from Venezuela said he witnessed the driver cursing at the group of people and raising his middle finger at them. “Go back to your country” a victim recalled the driver telling the group after they confronted him. Brownsville is one of the border cities that already sees an influx of migrants trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico before the Title 42 immigration law expires. Victims struck by the vehicle were waiting on the bus to return to downtown Brownsville after spending the night at the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center. The center is the only overnight shelter in the city and manages the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody. The victims were all male, several of them being from Venezuela. Law enforcement and shelter officials have not publicly announced the identities of the victims killed. Alvarez has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter, ten counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and reckless driving.