Four Mexican nationals were just arrested in Texas for their roles in last year’s smuggling incident, which led to the deaths of 53 migrants.
Memorials in honor of the migrants that were killed in the smuggling incident. (Photo: CBS News)
Tractor-Trailer Incident That Led To The Deaths Of Migrants
The Department of Justice announced last Tuesday that four Mexican nationals have been arrested in the state for their respective roles in last year’s smuggling incident that led to the deaths of 53 migrants, which includes one pregnant woman and 8 children. The incident is now believed to be the deadliest smuggling case in the history of the modern U.S.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that the migrants were loaded in a tractor-trailer in the state and had to endure hours of suffering, which led to their deaths. Garland warned smugglers that they cannot hide for long and that they will be put to justice.
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The Fate of The Arrested Mexican Nationals
According to the official statement made by the DOJ, the men arrested were Felipe Orduna-Torres, Armando Gonzales-Ortega, Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, and Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal. All were believed to be a part of an operation that would bring migrants illegally from Honduras and Mexico to the United States.
Their arrests were followed by the indictments of two men related to the same operation last year. Homero Zamorano and Christian Martinez of Pasadena, Texas, were indicted by a grand jury from San Antonio last July 2022. They were charged with counts of illegal transport of migrants resulting in serious injury and death. The four men arrested could serve life sentences according to the DOJ.
