Justice has finally caught up with two Mexican nationals involved in America’s deadliest human smuggling case that claimed 53 innocent lives in San Antonio. The horrific tragedy revealed how Biden’s border crisis enabled cartel operations and human trafficking networks that profit from human misery.
At a glance:
• Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega were found guilty for trafficking that killed 53 migrants, including children
• 67 illegal aliens were discovered in a sweltering tractor-trailer with no air conditioning in San Antonio
• The smugglers charged each immigrant between $12,000-$15,000 for the deadly journey
• Both men face potential life sentences with official sentencing scheduled for June 27
• Five other men have pleaded guilty in connection with the operation while one suspect remains at large
Deadliest Smuggling Operation in U.S. History
Two Mexican nationals are now facing life behind bars after a federal jury convicted them for their roles in the deadliest human smuggling operation in American history. Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega were found guilty of charges including conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and serious bodily injury.
The horrific incident occurred in June 2022 when authorities discovered an abandoned tractor-trailer near San Antonio containing 67 illegal immigrants packed inside without air conditioning in sweltering Texas heat. Of those discovered, 53 died from heat exposure and suffocation, including six children and a pregnant woman.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the smugglers charged each immigrant between $12,000 and $15,000 for transportation across the border. Investigators linked the men to at least 16 other smuggling operations, all aided by lax Biden administration policies that left the border wide open.
Inhumane Conditions and Desperate Attempts to Escape
Survivors who testified during the trial provided chilling details about the conditions inside the trailer that became a death chamber for dozens. Testimony revealed that smugglers confiscated cell phones and failed to provide water during the journey.
The medical examiner who responded to the scene testified that the interior of the trailer reached approximately 136 degrees Fahrenheit. Bodies were stacked upon one another, revealing the desperation of those trapped inside as temperatures rose to fatal levels.
Broader Network of Human Trafficking
The conviction of Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega represents just part of a larger criminal enterprise operating along the southern border. Five other men, including the driver of the truck, have already pleaded guilty to charges related to the deadly smuggling operation.
Federal investigators revealed the extensive smuggling network had deep connections to cartels taking advantage of the open Biden border. One key suspect remains a fugitive, while additional charges have been filed against co-conspirators in Mexico and Guatemala.
