Two men have been sentenced to essentially spend the rest of their lives in prison after 54 migrants died inside a sweltering truck trailer abandoned along Quintana Road in 2022.
The trailer, discovered in the intense San Antonio heat, was found with migrants still locked inside. First responders described it as a scene they would never forget, with people covered in seasoning in an attempt to mask the smell. 48 people were found dead at the scene, while 16 others were rushed to hospitals. Five more later died.
News 4 and Fox SA crews were on the ground as the trailer was processed by law enforcement.
It was unbearably hot outside, but inside, the conditions were far worse, with no air conditioning and marks on the trailer walls showing where people had clawed and scratched in a desperate attempt to escape.
Felipe Orduna-Torres, believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme, was sentenced on Friday to two consecutive life terms plus an additional 20-year sentence for his role in the tragedy.
Armando Gonzales-Ortega received a sentence of more than 83 years for his involvement.
Authorities said the smuggling cell had moved about 11,000 people into the United States before the tragedy.
Photos from other smuggling runs show how closely migrants were packed inside trailers, some with thermometers documenting the extreme heat.
Six other people are set to be sentenced in connection with this case in December.
Two New Military Defense Zones Coming to the Border
The Department of Defense is establishing two new military buffer zones along the U.S.-Mexico border, bringing the total to four.
In addition to the existing zones in El Paso and New Mexico, new “National Defense Areas” will be established in Yuma, Arizona, and deep South Texas.
The Texas zone will cover 250 miles along the Rio Grande in Cameron and Hidalgo counties and will fall under Joint Base San Antonio.
In these zones, military personnel will be authorized to temporarily detain migrants who illegally cross the border until they can be transferred to the Department of Homeland Security. According to the Air Force, duties in these zones will include “enhanced detection and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols, temporarily detaining trespassers, and supporting the installation of temporary barriers and signage to secure the area.”
We will continue tracking when the Texas defense zone officially becomes operational.
New Sections of Border Wall Coming to Texas
The Department of Homeland Security will fast-track construction of 17 miles of border wall in Texas under a new waiver issued by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
The new sections will be built in the Rio Grande Valley sector, with the waiver allowing DHS to bypass certain environmental laws to speed up the construction of barriers and roads and reduce administrative delays.
The funding for these new sections of wall was allocated in fiscal year 2021. We reached out to DHS for details on when construction is expected to begin and whether the land for these new sections was federal property or state land turned over by Texas.
As part of Operation Lone Star, Texas has been identifying land where border walls could be built, with Governor Greg Abbott offering that land to the federal government while negotiating for reimbursement.