Migrant death toll in San Antonio tractor-trailer tragedy rises to 53

The death toll in the worst human smuggling incident in recent U.S. history rose to 53 Wednesday as the alleged driver of a truck that was found stuffed with migrants earlier this week in the sweltering Texas heat was expected to appear in federal court.

The truck was discovered Monday on a desolate road in San Antonio, where temperatures reached a high of 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

Officials said the alleged driver, Homero Zamorano of Houston, initially tried to pass himself off as a victim before he was arrested along with two other men, identified as Juan Francisco D’Luna-Bilbao and Juan Claudio D’Luna-Mendez, both of Mexico.

An unnamed law enforcement official told the San Antonio Express-News that Zamorano was “very high on meth” when he was arrested.

The truck was captured by surveillance cameras passing through three checkpoints on Monday, the first in Laredo, Texas. Mexican authorities, however, believe that the migrants were already on U.S. soil before entering the truck.

At a press conference in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blasted the Biden administration for what he described as preventable deaths.

“President Biden was warned in advance that reduced border enforcements would lead to dire consequences, and we have seen those dire consequences,” Abbott said. “The bottom line is this: Despite the increasing numbers, despite the caravans on the Mexico side of the border right now, the Biden administration still is doing nothing whatsoever to stop it.”

Abbott said that Texas is adding more truck checkpoints and creating two so-called strike teams to help detect and deter illegal border crossings.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar sent a letter to Biden on Tuesday asking for more federal resources and requesting a meeting with the president. In it, he was sharply critical of both Biden and Abbott.

“I’m angry, Mr. President,” Salazar wrote. “I’m angry that I could not stop this massive loss of life in my county. I’m angry that, despite my best efforts to appeal to your administration, I have not received a response.

“I’m disappointed that a perceived lack of action on the part of the U.S. government has allowed the governor of my state to use this issue as one big campaign stunt,” Salazar added.

“I have watched as Governor Greg Abbott has painted this humanitarian crisis as some sort of enemy invasion.”

Following the discovery of the truck, the White House released a statement from Biden lamenting the “horrifying and heartbreaking” loss of life.

“This tragedy was caused by smugglers or human traffickers who have no regard for the lives they endanger and exploit to make a profit,” Biden said. “This incident underscores the need to go after the multi-billion dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and leading to far too many innocent deaths.”

Biden pointed to the recent launch of an anti-smuggling campaign that he said has resulted in over 2,400 arrests in its first three months.

“Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy,” Biden added. “And my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry.”