EAGLE PASS, Texas — Amid the backdrop of mournful Christian hymns and the sound of wind, Liliana Olivero watched her son’s final moments through her cellphone from Venezuela. Her cries reverberated despite the distance, as her son, Gustavo Alfonso Garcia Olivares, was laid to rest.
Garcia Olivares, aged 24, tragically drowned in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town with 30,000 residents. The burial took place Thursday at Maverick County Cemetery, with around ten attendees present. The ceremony was broadcast live to his grieving parents back in Venezuela.
This marked the inaugural funeral service for a migrant conducted by Border Vigil, a human rights entity focused on the perilous U.S.-Mexico border. “Today we’re trying to bring back some of that humanity not just by giving his name but also by having his photo and having his family in the service,” remarked Amerika Garcia Grewal from Border Vigil, which is supported by Frontera Federation.
This service followed a high-profile visit by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Eagle Pass, a focal point of contention between the Biden administration and Texas’ Republican governor, Greg Abbott. The border policy alliance between Abbott and the Trump administration adds complexity to this issue.
Border Vigil was founded in 2023 in response to rising migrant crossings, resulting in numerous deaths along the border. Since 2014, the International Organization for Migration’s Missing Migrants Project has counted 6,438 deceased and missing migrants at this border.
Data from the U.S. Border Patrol, which extends to the 12-month period ending September 30, 2022, reports that 895 bodies were found by agents and agencies.
Victor Garcia, Gustavo’s father, cherished the memory of their final conversation where his son expressed determination and ambition. “Dad, I’m going to make it, Dad. Don’t worry because you won’t be in need anymore. I’ll buy Mom a house and I’ll help improve your business,” Garcia fondly recalled.
Garcia Olivares, described as brave and ambitious, had embarked on the journey to build a life in the United States, having learned barbering at 14. Despite encouragement to pursue higher education, he made his choice, leaving his mother without a chance to bid farewell until the funeral.
Victor Garcia described the farewell ceremony as heart-wrenching yet relieving. The decision to bury Garcia Olivares in the U.S. was made due to the unaffordable $9,000 cost to repatriate his body.
A volunteer from a local church crafted the white pine-paneled coffin. As the service concluded, a backhoe filled the grave with earth, and a placard was placed next to a simple white cross amid other similar markers, reflecting the harsh reality of many similar stories.