Four people, including the alleged truck driver Homero Zamorano Jr., have been charged with the deaths of immigrants in San Antonio, the Justice Department announced on Wednesday. The 45-year-old is accused of an alien smuggling charge resulting in death. He is from Brownsville but is based in Pasadena, Texas, according to officials. He could face life or death. Three others were also charged, including Christian Martinez, who allegedly discussed the smuggling plan in a call with Mr Zamorano, and Mexicans Juan Claudio and Juan Francisco D’Luna Mendez, who were found because their address was used for the registration of the tractor-trailer that smuggled the immigrants. At least 53 people were found dead, “stacked” inside the tractor-trailer of the truck near San Antonio, Texas, in what authorities believe may be the deadliest human trafficking incident in modern US history. The alleged driver, Mr Zamorano, was high-minded when he was arrested and had a history of drug use and arrests, according to family members.
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Families in Guatemala, Mexico talk about sons after tragedy
Families of some of the younger immigrants mourned the death of their young sons who went to the United States with dreams of growing up and helping the family there before their lives ended tragically before their destination. The family of Wilmer Tulul, 14, and Melvin Guachiac, 13, two cousins in Nahuala, Guatemala, said they left home with dreams in their eyes to learn English and reunite with family. “My grandson told me he had a dream,” Wilmer’s grandmother, Pascuala Sipac, told Quiche through a translator. “He made the journey but (the dream) never came.” The two were killed along with 53 others in the deadliest human trafficking tragedy in the United States on record. Family members confirm death after seeing photos sent from San Antonio Mortuary The family of sons Jair, 19, and Yovani, 16, in Atexquilapan in eastern Mexico, are still waiting for the closure with some information about their sons. Their parents are convinced they were in the truck after they last spoke to them on Monday morning. “It’s very difficult for me to think about everything that happened,” said Yolanda Olivares. “It devours me from within that I do not know about.” Shweta Sharma 1 July 2022 04:51 1656645413
The Consul General of Mexico visits the San Antonio Monument
Mexico’s consul general Rubén Minutti visited San Antonio on Thursday to pay tribute to the more than 50 immigrants who died while being smuggled to the United States in a full tractor-trailer. A number of Mexicans were among the 53 dead. Mr Minutti laid a wreath at the semi-rural area where the crowded truck was abandoned. “Consular attention to the relatives of the victims has been offered from the first moment and will continue at all times,” according to a statement from the office of the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs. Josh Markus July 1, 2022 04:16 1656642653
Photos show growing monument at the site of the San Antonio trailer smuggling tragedy
A makeshift monument sprang up in a semi-rural location outside San Antonio, where more than 50 immigrants were killed while being smuggled into the United States by tractor-trailer. The exhibitions included flowers, flags and protest signs. Artist Roberto Marquez also paints a mural in the space. Josh Marcus July 1, 2022 3:30 p.m. 1656639953
The father describes the last conversation with the son who died in the trailer: video
A father named Manuel told KHOU how he tried to stop his son from immigrating to the US, but that 13-year-old Wilmer would not be discouraged. Josh Marcus 1 July 2022 02:45 1656637253
How do Republicans react to the San Antonio immigrant tragedy? Blaming Biden.
Shortly after the truck full of dead immigrants was discovered in Texas, Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, rushed in and blamed Joe Biden’s border policies for what happened. Following is a video of Mr. Abbott’s response. And here’s what the GOP has to say about what happened in San Antonio. Josh Marcus July 1, 2022 02:00 1656635417
The Supreme Court rules that Biden may end Trump’s “Stay in Mexico” policy.
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that President Biden could end Donald Trump’s so-called “Stay in Mexico” immigration policy, which has sent tens of thousands of asylum seekers to the Mexican border until they are deported. The policy helped aspiring immigrants to unauthorized entry methods. The Biden government tried to end the program on its first day in power, but the states of Texas and Missouri challenged the decision. More details in our story. Josh Marcus 1 July 2022 01:30 1656633653
READ: Details of Homer Zamorano’s sworn arrest
Homero Zamorano, the alleged driver of a truck full of dead migrants in San Antonio, made his first appearance in court on Thursday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office provided the 45-year-old indictment to The Independent. Here is the most relevant section, where an Internal Security Investigation agent describes the arrest of Mr. Zamorano, who could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted. An affidavit from a Homeland Security investigator detailing the arrest of Homero Zamorano, the alleged driver of a van in which 53 illegal immigrants died from heat-related injuries. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for West Texas) Josh Marcus 1 July 2022 01:00 1656631817
What did Joe Biden say about the deaths of immigrants in San Antonio? Read his statement.
The president, along with several leaders, responded with horror to the death of more than 50 migrants on a tractor-trailer in San Antonio. Josh Marcus July 1, 2022 00:30 1656630017
San Antonio Police Chief Previously Involved with ICE for Jurisdiction in Smuggling Investigations
After more than 60 migrants were found in the back of a trailer in San Antonio on Monday, city officials immediately handed over the case to the federal Department of Homeland Security, the same department that oversees the Immigration and Customs Administration (ICE). This is different from a similar incident in 2017, in which the current San Antonio Police Chief insisted: “We are not involving ICE in this investigation.” In that case, 12 suspected migrants were found in a tractor-trailer and interviewed by the SAPD before being released. The body camera footage shows immigration advocates telling suspect immigrants in Spanish that ICE is not coming to the scene and not being afraid to work with SAPD to catch the truck driver. The decision not to involve the ICE led the Texas Attorney General’s Office to sue the San Antonio Police Chief, a case that was settled for $ 300,000 this year, according to KSAT. Josh Marcus July 1, 2022 00:00 1656628253
Truck driver Homero Zamorano appears in court as documents suggest broken A / C caused migrant deaths
Homer Zamorano, who is accused of driving a van in which 53 illegal immigrants died from heat-related injuries, made his first appearance in federal court on Thursday. The 45-year-old from Brownsville, Texas is accused of smuggling undocumented immigrants resulting in death. He could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. During the hearing, the US Attorney’s Office for West Texas, which is prosecuting the case, informed the alleged smuggler of the charges against him. It is not clear whether he has legal representation. Appearing in court comes as new information spreads about what led to the horrific deaths and those responsible. A failed air-conditioning unit on the tractor-trailer carrying the group of migrants allegedly caused the deaths of the migrants, according to sealed court documents accusing Christian Martinez, one of Mr Zamorano’s alleged conspirators, of reports KHOU. You can find more details in my full story here. Josh Marcus 30 June 2022 23:30
