World News

Texas truck driver pleads guilty to attempted smuggling that left 53 migrants dead

A Texas truck driver charged in the deaths of 53 migrants in a moving tractor trailer with no air conditioning pleaded guilty Thursday to the 2022 disaster that became the country's deadliest smuggling attempt along the US-Mexico border.

Homero Zamorano Jr., who lived in Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle immigrants resulting in death, causing serious bodily injury, and endangering lives; one count of alien transportation resulting in death; and one count of alien transportation resulting in serious bodily injury and endangering lives.

The 48-year-old suspect could be sentenced to life in prison, the US Department of Justice said. Zamorano is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24.

Mark Stevens, Zamorano's attorney, said in an email that he could not comment on the pending case.

The ride is three hours

Authorities say Zamorano, who was driving the truck, and the other men charged with smuggling knew the trailer's air conditioning unit was malfunctioning and would not be able to cool the migrants trapped inside during the hot, three-hour journey from the border town. from Laredo to San Antonio.

Temperatures reached 38 C as the migrants screamed and pounded on the walls of the trailer for help or trying to pull out a fingernail, investigators said.

The truck was full of 67 people, and the dead included 27 from Mexico, 14 from Honduras, seven from Guatemala and two from El Salvador, according to Mexican authorities. Prosecutors say the migrants paid up to $15,000 US each to cross the US border.

The incident took place on a remote back street in San Antonio on June 27, 2022. Police arrested Zamorano after spotting him hiding in a nearby area, according to a statement from the US Attorney's Office. A search of Zamorano's cell phone turned up calls related to human trafficking.

Surveillance video of an 18-wheeler passing through a Border Patrol checkpoint showed a driver matching Zamorano's description, according to the lawsuit.

Another previously charged in the tragedy is Christian Martinez, from Texas, who was arrested with Zamorano shortly after the migrants were found. Martinez has pleaded guilty to trafficking-related charges.

Four Mexicans were arrested in this case in 2023.

And in August, a suspect arrested in Guatemala was charged with helping coordinate a smuggling attempt. US authorities will seek the extradition of Rigoberto Román Miranda Orozco, who is charged with six counts of trafficking in persons resulting in death or serious injury. Authorities say he was connected to four Guatemalan migrants in the van, three of whom died, and faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Mobile phone taken by smugglers: the case

According to the case against Miranda Orozco, the smugglers forced the migrants to throw away their cell phones before entering the trailer, leaving them with no way to call for help. An unknown powder has been distributed by truck to prevent the smell of people's belongings from being detected by patrol dogs at border checkpoints.

When the train opened in San Antonio, 48 migrants had died. Another 16 were taken to hospitals, where five died. US President Joe Biden called the tragedy “shocking and heartbreaking.”

Those who died wanted a better life. News of the trailer full of dead bodies was met with fear in towns and villages accustomed to seeing their youth on the move, trying to escape poverty or violence in Central America and Mexico.

Authorities say the men operated human-trafficking operations in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, and shared routes, guides, hideouts, trucks and trailers, some of which were stored in a private parking lot in San Antonio.


Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button