Officials Say at Least 25 Mexican Nationals Among Immigrants Crammed Inside Sweltering Truck Press Association
go to original July 25, 2017

US truck driver charged after deaths in immigrant-smuggling bid (Al Jazeera English)

Update: Mexico Says Seven of Its Citizens Died in Sweltering San Antonio Truck (Reuters)

Twenty-five of the migrants found inside a sweltering tractor-trailer found parked outside a Texas Walmart in which 10 people died were Mexican, officials have said.

The Mexican foreign ministry said that based on interviews by consulate personnel and contact with local authorities, “we can say that of the 10 people who lost their lives … four were of Mexican nationality”.

The statement added that of the 29 people taken to hospital, 21 are Mexican. Some of the others inside the truck were from Guatemala.

As many as 90 people are thought to have been crammed inside.

The man charged with driving the rig has appeared in federal court in San Antonio.

James Matthew Bradley Jr, 60, faces charges of illegally transporting immigrants for financial gain, resulting in death. The judge explained to Bradley that he could face the death penalty, if convicted.

In the federal complaint, Bradley told authorities he did not realize anyone was inside the 18-wheeler.

Bradley, of Clearwater, Florida, was detained ahead of another hearing on Thursday.

Read the rest at Daily Gazette

Related: Survivors: Truck in Deadly Immigrant-Smuggling Incident Had 200 People at One Point (Austin American-Statesman)

Related: How Big Rigs Are Seen as 'VIP Treatment' in Human Smuggling: You're Less Likely to Be Raped (The Associated Press)

Related: As Migrant Smuggling Tragedy Shocks US, Border Militarization Moves Forward (teleSUR)

Related: Mexican Consul on Hot Truck Victims: 'Seeing Their Suffering... Was Heartbreaking' (KENS5)

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