Vigil held for death of 5-year-old migrant boy in Chicago

Hundreds gathered outside a migrant shelter on the Lower West Side Wednesday night, three days after a 5-year-old migrant staying there died in a medical emergency that has confused and frustrated migrants, volunteers and health care advocates.

For advocates, the death of Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero is a symbol of the effects of repeated chaos between governments struggling to house and care for record numbers of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border.

“When there are folks who are sending (migrants) from the border, coming to us from Texas, and not really respecting human life, someone’s going to get hurt,” said John Zayas, senior pastor at Grace and Peace Church in Austin, who was part of an initiative where faith-based and philanthropic groups opened their doors to hundreds of migrants staying in police stations in November.

The scene outside the shelter was busy prior to the vigil as organizers set up yellow flowers and roses and candles on the pavement in anticipation…