Two guilty in Texas migrant smuggling deaths case

Two men were found guilty on Tuesday in connection with a tragic smuggling attempt that resulted in the deaths of 53 immigrants in Texas. The verdict came after a two-week trial in federal court in San Antonio. This incident in 2022 is recognized as the deadliest human smuggling case at the U.S.-Mexico border. The jury took about an hour to reach their decision, convicting Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega of conspiracy charges related to their involvement in the smuggling operation. They could face life in prison and will be sentenced on June 27. The victims, who came from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, had paid between $12,000 and $15,000 each for their passage into the U.S. They were placed into a tractor-trailer with no working air conditioning for a three-hour journey to San Antonio. As temperatures inside the trailer soared, many passengers banged on the walls for help, but most ultimately lost consciousness. When authorities opened the trailer in San Antonio, 48 people were already dead, with 16 others taken to the hospital. Five of those hospitalized later died, including six children and a pregnant woman. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman stated that the defendants were aware of the broken air conditioning but ignored the risks involved. Orduna-Torres was identified as the leader of the smuggling operation, while Gonzales-Ortega served as his assistant. Five other men have already pleaded guilty in this case, including the truck driver, Homero Zamorano Jr. He was found hiding near the trailer and may also receive a life sentence. Other individuals involved have been charged in Mexico and Guatemala, and one remains at large in the U.S. This case is part of a larger pattern of tragic incidents involving migrants attempting to cross the border.