BALTIMORE — Eight workers were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore fixing potholes when it collapsed on Tuesday. Only two people survived.
The victims are 34-year-old Maynor Suazo Sandoval, of Honduras, 40-year-old Miguel Luna, of El Salvador, 35-year-old Alejandro H Fuentes, of Mexico, 26-year-old Dorlian Cabrera and Jose Lopez, of Guatemala.
“I feel bad only god knows how my heart aches, maybe he was desperate trying to escape,” Isabel Franco
Lopez's wife, Isabel Franco said the pain is unimaginable. She said Lopez moved to the United States 19 years ago from Guatemala. They have one child together but she said he was a loving father to all three of her children.
“They are sad, they loved Jose. He had a good heart, he was a hard worker. He always worried about us. He died but he was fighting for us always." Franco said.
On Friday afternoon, construction workers from across the region honored the six men who lost their lives and shared their experiences with dangerous work environments and discrimination.
Workers hope the deadly bridge collapse will bring change for all workers, regardless of their immigration status.
“I have suffered discrimination. A lot of injustice with low wages. They are not following the law when paying me like an electrician with experience that I am. Many employers still owe me money that have not paid me that work.” One worker said.
Workers are calling on President Biden to honor the Key Bridge victim’s by providing relief and recognition of their sacrifice to this country, with work permits, and a temporary protection status for their families.
According to the Institute For Immigration Research, in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD metro areas there are approximately 334,300 workers in the essential construction industry. Immigrants constitute 39% of the workforce in this industry, which is approximately 130,000 people.
CASA officials tell WUSA9 they are working on getting in contact with the two survivors to offer support.
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