Four people have been charged in connection to an alleged migrant smuggling scheme that resulted in the deaths of 53 suspected illegal immigrants found inside a sweltering tractor-trailer near San Antonio on Monday, according to the Department of Justice.
Three of the four suspects, including the suspected driver of the truck, Homero Zamorano Jr., 45, were arrested Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said in a statement. Christian Martinez, 28, was arrested Tuesday in Palestine, Texas.
Zamorano was charged by criminal complaint with one count of alien smuggling resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of death or life in prison without a chance of parole. The Justice Department described how officials were able to identify Zamorano as the driver. “Laredo Sector Border Patrol provided [Homeland Security Investigations] agents surveillance footage of the tractor trailer crossing through an immigration checkpoint,” the DOJ said. “The driver could be seen wearing a black shirt with stripes and a hat. HSI agents confirmed Zamorano matched the individual from the surveillance footage and was wearing the same clothing.”
THREE MEN, INCLUDING DRIVER, ARRESTED AFTER DEADLY MIGRANT SMUGGLING EVENT IN TEXAS
Martinez was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, which also has a maximum penalty of death or life in prison without parole. Martinez had an initial court appearance in Tyler on Wednesday but will be transferred to San Antonio with the other men, according to the DOJ. Juan Claudio D’Luna-Mendez, 23, and Juan Francisco D’Luna-Bilbao, 48, both Mexican citizens determined to be in the country illegally, were also arrested and charged Wednesday on gun-related charges, the DOJ statement said. They were both charged with one count of possession of a weapon by an alien illegally in the United States. Both men could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to court records.
HSI, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, responded on Monday to “the scene of a human smuggling event involving a tractor trailer and 64 individuals suspected of entering the United States illegally,” the DOJ said, citing court documents.
Fifty-three people died due to extreme heat that crossed into triple digits, 48 of whom were declared dead at the scene, and five others died at a nearby hospital. Officials said there were no signs that they had working air conditioning or water in the back of the tractor-trailer.
Among the 48 declared dead were 22 Mexican nationals, seven Guatemalan nationals, two Honduran nationals, and 17 of unknown origin but suspected to be undocumented noncitizens, according to the DOJ.
“Officials are working with foreign consulate offices for proper notifications to family members of the deceased,” the department said.
Chris Magnus, the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, lamented the situation. “[I’m] horrified at this tragic loss of life near San Antonio,” Magnus said Monday, according to ABC News. “This speaks to the desperation of migrants who would put their lives in the hands of callous human smugglers who show no regard for human life.”
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) blamed the tragedy on President Joe Biden for cutting down on border resources and claimed the president knew that a lack of enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico border would lead to dire consequences.
“Many of these deaths could be prevented if Biden simply fully funded the border patrol operation of the United States of America and implemented the policies that the border patrol needs in order to do their real job,” Abbott said, according to the outlet. “Their real job is not the paper-processing work that they have been assigned to do. Their real job is both to secure the border as well as to do things like inspect the vehicle that was carrying those people who lost their lives.”
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HSI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the incident with the help of the San Antonio Police Department and the Palestine Police Department, according to the DOJ.
