MIGUA New York: Guatemalan immigrant dies in accident on her way to the March FOR America in Washington, DC, on Sunday March 21

Two other Guatemalan women were seriously injured.

New York, USA. —on Sunday March 21, while many groups from New York, New Jersey, Port Chester and Connecticut were mobilizing for the rally supporting Immigration Reform in Washington, DC., 3 members of that community that were traveling in their own vehicle were in a car accident at 5 am on Strawberry Hill Avenue in Stamford, Connecticut. The car the 3 women were traveling in was hit by a drunk driver leaving two of them seriously injured, while Miriam Vega, 57 years old and native of La Estancia, Monjas municipality, Jalapa state, sadly, was killed by the impact. Maria Sandoval, president of Grupo Quetzal in Connecticut, and Elida Leiva, community activist, suffered serious injuries but fortunately their lives were saved.

“Mrs. Vega was a tireless fighter for the rights of all immigrants despite the fact that she herself had her papers. I think the least we can do as a community is to honor her work posthumously for her passion for helping her community even though she personally had no need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” said Claudia Carias, member of MIGUA in New York, who organized one of the hundreds of buses that went to DC on March 21. “ We need to do all we can to show our solidarity to the Vega family and the two survivors,” she added.

MIGUA believes it is essential that we do not let this tragedy go unknown and instead that we highlight the story of Miriam Vega to serve as an example for all those who after they find a path to citizenship in the United States, unfortunately forget that there are brothers and sisters that need our help and solidarity. As an immigrant community we need to recognized the importance of solidarity, to be motivated to fight for immigration reform for our compatriots and for all other undocumented immigrants. Miriam Vega’s altruism should be an example and inspiration for all immigrants.

MIGUA asks that you spread the word widely about this tragedy so that the example of Miriam Vega and her companions is not forgotten or overlooked..
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