Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that 50 people died in the 103-degree heat of an abandoned tractor-trailer due to President Joe Biden’s “deadly opened borders policies”.
The Republican state chief stated that the president’s refusal to enforce the law led to one of the most serious human smuggling incidents on the U.S.-Mexico frontier.
Firefighters found stacks of bodies in a truck that was located near railroad tracks in San Antonio’s Southern suburbs. On Monday they were found close to Interstate 35 which runs to Mexico’s border.
Police say that some victims staggered from the trailers and then died. The victims were found several blocks away. The migrants had been sprinkled with steak seasoning in an apparent bid to cover up their smell as they were being transported.
Sixteen survivors including four children were taken to local hospitals with heatstroke and exhaustion. They were found by a local worker, who investigated the scene after hearing a faint cry for help emanating from the truck.
Police claim that they don’t know how many people were on the truck and they aren’t certain of the total number.
Mexico’s foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed Tuesday morning that the deceased includes 22 migrants from Mexico, seven from Guatemala, and two from Honduras. The other migrants have yet to be identified. Officials note that no children were among the dead.
“These deaths are on Biden”. Abbott tweeted Monday evening that the deaths were due to his open border policies. He tweeted this just hours after the bodies were found. It is a testimony to the grave consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.
At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas.
These deaths are on Biden.
They are a result of his deadly open border policies.
They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. https://t.co/8KG3iAwlEk
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 28, 2022
The incident marks the deadliest human smuggling on American soil since 2003 when 19 migrants died after riding inside the rear compartment of a sweltering 18-wheeler while they traveled from South Texas to Houston. The death doll rose to 50 from 46 on Tuesday morning.
Several other GOP members took to social media blaming Biden’s immigration policies for the tragedy.
‘Horrific. This..is WRONG’ Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted. ‘How many more people have to die before Dems give a damn?’
Horrific. This..is..WRONG.
How many more people have to die before Dems give a damn?#BidenBorderCrisis https://t.co/rRa1nAAPxr
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 28, 2022
“Today in San Antonio it was 102 degrees. Imagine being abandoned inside an 18-wheeler left to die … will [Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas] even mention their names?” Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) tweeted.
Today in San Antonio it was 102 degrees. Imagine being abandoned inside an 18-wheeler left to die – 42 people died today – will @AliMayorkas even mention their names?
— Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) June 28, 2022
Texas Governor Greg Abbott claimed President Joe Biden’s “deadly opened borders policies” were responsible for 50 deaths of migrants found in a tractor-trailer in 103-degree heat.
Secretary Mayorkas addressed this incident saying he was heartbroken and would be praying for the injured.
‘I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of life today and am praying for those still fighting for their lives,’ he said. ‘Far too many lives have been lost as individuals – including families, women, and children – take this dangerous journey.’
The DHS secretary called the human smugglers callous individuals who have no regard for the vulnerable people they exploit and endanger in order to make a profit and alleged the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was investigating the incident.
Democrats strongly reacted and blamed GOP for their tragic loss.
Joaquin Castro stated that Title 42 had placed people in desperate situations at risk. Title 42 provided more business opportunities and repeat business for human smugglers.
Former U.S. Rep. Beto Olson of Texas was the gubernatorial candidate. He stated that it was urgent to act and eliminate human smuggling networks. They must be replaced with legal migration options that are more in line with our values.
William McManus, Chief of Police, stated that three individuals were taken into police custody. It was not clear if the three were connected to this.
On the cab, there were U.S. and Texas registration numbers. The tags were connected to Alamo residents by the State Department on Transportation Records.
But, Issac Limn, the son-in-law of the resident, asserts that the smuggling ring printed fraudulently the tags on the truck.
Limon stated to The Washington Post that it was a perfect arrangement. The truck is now here. It’s right in front of me. It’s sad to say that he is a victim because many people believe it was him.
Limon claims the truck that actually corresponds with the registration is a Volvo and was being used to haul grain over the past week in another part of Texas. He stated that the incident had shaken his father-in-law.
The truck was abandoned near a salvage yard and railroad tracks at 6 pm on Monday.
McManus said a nearby worker ‘heard a cry for help and came out to investigate, before finding the trailer’s doors partially opened upon arrival and discovering dozens of bodies.
Texas has experienced near-record heatwaves, while San Antonio (about 160 miles from the Mexican border) saw temperatures soar to 103F Monday with high humidity.
“The patients that we saw were too hot to touch,” chief firefighter Charles Hood, said Monday that “patients were suffering from heatstroke, exhaustion, and other symptoms”.
‘There were no signs of water in the vehicle. It was a refrigerated trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig.’
