Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said President Joe Biden’s ‘deadly open border policies’ are to blame for the deaths of the 50 migrants found dead inside an abandoned tractor-trailer in 103-degree heat. The state’s Republican chief claims the president’s ‘refusal to enforce the law’ caused one of the most deadly incidents of human smuggling along the U.S.- Mexico border.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Firefighters found ‘stacks of bodies’ in a truck next to railroad tracks in San Antonio’s southern outskirts, close to Interstate 35 which runs to the Mexican border, on Monday. There were no signs of water in the truck. Some of the victims staggered out of the trailer before dying and were found several blocks away, police told the Texas Tribune.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

The migrants had been sprinkled with steak seasoning in an apparent bid to cover up their smell as they were being transported. Sixteen survivors, including four children were rushed to nearby hospitals for heat stroke and exhaustion. They were found by a local worker, who investigated the scene after hearing a faint cry for help emanating from the truck. Police are not confident they have accounted for everyone from the truck and do not know what the total number is. Pictured: Police and other first responders work the scene where officials say dozens of people have been found dead.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Mexico’s foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed Tuesday morning that the deceased includes 22 migrants from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and two from Honduras. The other migrants have yet to be identified. Officials note that no children were among the dead. ‘These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies,’ Abbott tweeted Monday night, hours after the bodies were discovered. ‘They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.’ The incident marks the deadliest human smuggling on American soil since 2003 when 19 migrants died after riding inside the rear compartment of sweltering 18-wheeler while they traveled from South Texas to Houston.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Several other GOP members took to social media blaming Biden’s immigration policies for the tragedy. ‘Horrific. This..is..WRONG’ Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted. ‘How many more people have to die before Dems give a…?’ Sen. Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, echoed his claims: ‘Dozens of migrants were found dead in a tractor-trailer in the Texas heat today. There is nothing compassionate about the Biden administration’s open border policy.’ Congressman Tony Gonzalez specifically called out Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas writing: ‘Today in San Antonio it was 102 degrees. Imagine being abandoned inside an 18-wheeler left to die – 42 people died today – will @AliMayorkas even mention their names?’

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Secretary Mayorkas responded to the incident, alleging he was ‘heartbroken’ and issued his prayers for the injured. ‘I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of life today and am praying for those still fighting for their lives,’ he said. ‘Far too many lives have been lost as individuals – including families, women, and children – take this dangerous journey.’

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

The DHS secretary called the human smugglers ‘callous individuals who have no regard for the vulnerable people they exploit and endanger in order to make a profit’ and alleged the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was investigating the incident. ‘We will work alongside our partners to hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable and continue to take action to disrupt smuggling networks,’ Mayorkas said. Pictured: Local priests from the San Antonio Archdiocese stand near the scene.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Democrats hit back, placing blame on the GOP for the tragic loss of life. Congressman Joaquin Castro took aim at Abbott in a tweet that read: ’46 people die and you go straight to right wing talk points. Worthless.’ ‘The tragedy in San Antonio tonight, the loss of life, is horrific. My prayers are with the victims, their families and the survivors being treated in our community. May God bless them. We must end Title 42 which has put desperate, oppressed people in grave danger of death,’ he added in a statement to KSAT . ‘Title 42 has created more business, repeat business, for human smugglers.’ Texas gubernatorial candidate for former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke called for ‘urgent action’ to tackle the human smuggling crisis.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

‘This is devastating. Our thoughts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in San Antonio today,’ he posted to Facebook Monday. ‘We need urgent action — dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our country’s needs.’ ‘This is an absolute tragedy,’ added Congressman Henry Cuellar. ‘We must bring an end to these senseless deaths and hold those responsible accountable. Let us pray for the families of the deceased. May they Rest In Peace.’ Police Chief William McManus said three individuals were taken into custody, but that it had not been established whether they were ‘absolutely connected to this or not.’

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

The truck had U.S. and Texas registration numbers listed on the cab. State department on transportation records connected the tags to an Alamo resident. However, the resident’s son-in-law, Issac Limon, claims those running the smuggling ring fraudulently printed the tags on the truck. ‘It was a perfect setup,’ Limon told The Washington Post . ‘The truck is here. I’m looking at it right now. Sad to say, but he’s a bit of a victim, too, because people believe it was him.’ Limon claims the truck that actually corresponds with the registration is a Volvo and was being used to haul grain over the past week in another part of Texas. He noted that is father-in-law was ‘shaken up’ by the incident.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Texas has been experiencing a near-record heat wave, with temperatures in San Antonio, which is about 160 miles from the Mexican border, swelling to a high of 103F on Monday with high humidity. ‘The patients that we saw were hot to the touch. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion,’ fire chief Charles Hood said in a press briefing. ‘[There were] no signs of water in the vehicle. It was a refrigerated trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig.’ The truck was found abandoned by auto salvage yards and railroad tracks around 6:00pm by an individual who worked nearby.

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Texas Gov. blames Biden for death of 50 migrants found in semi-truck

Chief McManus said Monday searches to find any survivors that may have escaped were ongoing. ‘We had our canines out there going through the woods and we may have to do that again tomorrow in the light of day,’ he said. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the 50 who died had ‘families who were likely trying to find a better life’. ‘The plight of migrants seeking refuge is always a humanitarian crisis,’ said Nirenberg. ‘But tonight we are dealing with a horrific human tragedy.’