Mexico: Poverty, US Border Issues Blamed for Devastating Deaths of At Least 50 Migrants

The death toll of Mexico migrants and asylum seekers of other nationalities in Texas inside a semi-truck rose to 51 on Tuesday. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) blamed their demise on several factors, including a lack of control from the "U.S. interior."

Dallas News reporter Jamie Landers confirmed the current number of deaths among Mexico migrants in the truck, explaining that the incident was connected to human smuggling in the U.S.

In his daily briefing, AMLO called the discovery of the migrants a "tremendous tragedy" and pledged that Mexico would work to send home the remains of their citizens.

Lopez Obrador then blamed the "poverty and desperation of our Central American brothers and of Mexicans," for the death of the migrants.

"It happens because there is the trafficking of people and a lack of control, in this case at the Mexican-US border, but also in the US interior" AMLO added.

Mexico Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard noted that Mexico's government joined the probe and will send a team to Texas to help in the investigation.

US Border Crisis: Death of Migrants Inside a Semi-Truck in Texas

Precinct 1 Bar County Commissioner Rebecca Clay-Flores said in a news conference on Tuesday that the semi-truck, where the Mexico migrants and other asylum seekers of different nationalities were, was specifically found in San Antonio, according to CNN.

Police Chief Bill McManus on Monday said that authorities were alerted when a worker in a nearby building heard a cry for help. The worker, who was not identified, reportedly found the trailer with doors partially opened and witnessed deceased people inside.

Nearly two dozen Mexican migrants, seven Guatemalan migrants, and two Honduran migrants were among the dead. A federal law enforcement noted that 48 people died on the scene and two others died at hospitals.

Those found alive, including four children, were taken to hospitals. Authorities mentioned that survivors were "hot to the touch" and were suffering from heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Authorities from Mexico confirmed that at least two Mexican migrants were treated for dehydration.

"None of these people were able to extricate themselves out of the truck," San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said, adding that the migrants were waiting for help when they arrived.

Hood added that the migrants inside the trailer are "too weak" to get out and get help themselves.

Officials are now working to confirm the nationalities of the remaining victims.

Meanwhile, U.S. authorities noted that at least three people believed to be connected to the smuggling activity are now under the custody of law enforcement.

US Border Crisis: Joe Biden Comments on the Death of 51 Immigrants, Including Mexico Migrants

President Joe Biden commented on the deaths of 51 people, including Mexico migrants, hoping to enter the U.S. as "horrifying and heartbreaking."

"Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy," Biden further noted.

President Joe Biden then vowed that his administration would continue "to do everything possible" to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who want to enter the U.S.

Homeland Security Investigation acting special agent in charge, Craig Larrabee, said that the discovery of the semi-truck with at least 51 migrants, including Mexicans, was "the worst human-smuggling event in the United States."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Death Toll From Migrants Found in Truck in Texas Reaches 50, Mexican Authorities Say - From ABC News (Australia)