Mexico Authorities Discover Truck With Over 300 Migrants From 14 Countries

Mexico's National Immigration Institute on Thursday announced the discovery of a truck with over 300 migrants on board from 14 different countries.

Associated Press reported that the authorities from Mexico found the truck parked on the roadside in an area located in the southern part of Chiapas state. The said area in Mexico is known to be a border with Guatemala.

At least 377 migrants were found by Mexico's National Immigration Institute, claiming that the illegal immigrants were dangling their legs off the roof of the freight container.

The institute noted that the truck was carrying migrants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and South Africa.

Latin Americans were also in the truck, including those from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Venezuela.

The health condition of the migrants discovered on the truck were not mentioned by the authorities. It was also unclear what moves were taken by the authorities after the illegal immigrants were discovered.

Migrants' Method in Crossing the Borders

In December, a cargo truck loaded with migrants rolled over and crashed into a bridge in Mexico. The migrants in the said truck reportedly paid $2,500 to $3,500 to smugglers to be transported to Puebla to make their way to the U.S. border.

The tragedy that occurred on a highway near Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas left at least 53 people dead and 58 injured.

The migrants on board the said truck were reportedly from Central America, particularly from Honduras and Guatemala. Photos of the scene showed rows of what appeared to be bodies covered in white sheets.

Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei and Mexico's President Andres Manuel Andres Lopez Obrador extended their sympathy to the victims of the tragedy in Chiapas.

In May, a bus carrying migrants crashed in the state of San Luis Potosi, killing at least seven and injuring at least 24.

Immigrants and activist groups previously claimed that the crackdown on migrant crossings contributed to why illegal immigrants use riskier routes to the United States.

Reports pointed out that migrants usually wade, swim, or take rafts in crossing the Mexico river in an attempt to reach the United States.

Migrant Apprehensions in May Surpasses Monthly Record

The Border Patrol recorded over 222,000 migrants who crossed the border without authorization in May, breaking the March 2000 record of over 220,000, per CBS News.

Meanwhile, the overall migrant encounters in May were recorded at 273,309, representing a four percent increase in April, amounting to only 261,780.

Reports noted that nearly 77,000 migrant encounters in May, included Mexicans, Cubans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Colombians.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Thousands Join Migrant Caravan Moving Through Mexico To U.S. Border - From NBC News