Convicting 2 subjects
CNN reported that the two suspects have been charged in connection with the deaths of 51 migrants. Juan Claudio D'Luna-Mendez and Juan Francisco D'Luna-Bilbao were charged with "owned weapons while illegally entering the United States," according to court records and US officials on June 27, the same day that the migrants were found dead in the container truck. Both are Mexican citizens residing illegally in the US.
Investigators tracked the truck to an address in San Antonio where they were tracking, and arrested the two suspects as they left their residence.
The US federal court has charged two subjects involved in human trafficking plots. Previously, US authorities said three people were arrested in the incident, including the driver. The third suspect is described as an American citizen, expected to be charged, but as of the evening of June 28, the subject was still in the hospital.
Revealing the cause of the victims' death
San Antonio City Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said the victims died of heat stroke, heatstroke and exhaustion. Rescue forces arrived at the scene at around 6:00 p.m. on June 27, after receiving a report of a deceased person. Fire officials found a "trailer with a body outside and many bodies that could be seen inside when the door was opened".
He added that the truck was air conditioned and had no water inside. It is unclear when the people in the container died. On the day migrants from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras were transported by container to the US, temperatures in San Antonio reached nearly 40 degrees Celsius with high humidity - according to the National Weather Service.
"None of these people were able to get out of the truck. So they are still there, waiting for help, when we arrived, they were too weak, exhausted to get out themselves, said Mr. Hood.
The victims in the truck included at least 22 Mexians and 2 Honduras. 7 Guatemala people were among the dead, and another Guatemala person is in critical condition.
President Joe Biden described the discovery as "horrifying and heartbreaking," saying the deaths highlighted the need to crack down on human trafficking crimes.
Firefighters see more than a body
Secretary of the Interior Alejandro Mayorkas said on social media: I am heartbroken by todays tragic loss and pray for those who are still fighting for their lives. Too many lives have been lost as individuals including families, women and children have joined this dangerous journey.
cap cap cap cap cap cap said 60 firefighters present at the scene were still shocked by the bodies in the truck. No one of us could have imagined that when we arrived at the scene, Mr. Hood said.
Business owners in the area also said they were shocked. They are human. It was terrible. We, the migrants, come to this country to seek a better life, but yesterday's incident reminded us that there are successful people but many have a tragic outcome, said Martinez, 68, an Israeli.
US officials are working to better handle the flow of migrants to the US-Mexico border, Mayorkas told CNN earlier this month. The Ministry of Internal Security also announced efforts to crack down on smuggling criminal organizations last spring.
Migrants in recent years have faced other tragedies and challenges when enduring the heat and dangerous terrain as they try to cross the US-Mexico border.
Since October last year, more than 14,000 searches and rescue efforts have been conducted along the southern US border, according to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency. This number increased from 12,833 searches and rescues in fiscal 2021 (ending in September 2022).
In 2017, 10 people died and dozens were injured in heatstroke after being spotted in a tractor-trailer at a retail store in San Antonio Walmart. The truck driver was sentenced to life in prison without hope.
In 2003, 18 victims aged 7 to 91 were found dead in the truck's bins along with about 100 others when the weather reached 38 degrees Celsius. The driver in this case was initially sentenced to life in prison, but in 2011, he was sentenced to nearly 34 years in prison.
Hot weather is not the only danger to migrants jostling in vehicles. In March 2021, a convoy of 25 people collided with an SUV in California, killing 13 unidentified immigrants.
