Texas Truck Tragedy: VIP Trips Offered to Migrants on Smuggling Activity That Killed 53

VIP trips were reportedly offered by smugglers to migrants who boarded the truck that was discovered in Texas in June, with 53 dead people inside.

According to New York Post, the family of the victims identified as Pablo Ortega and Julio Lopez confirmed that both of the migrants were offered VIP trips on a journey to the U.S. that became a Texas truck tragedy.

The families of Ortega and Lopez noted that both migrants agreed to pay $13,000 and $12,000 respectively, to avail the alleged VIP package, per Reuters. This amount is much higher than the average $2,000 to $7,000 for Mexican migrants per the 2019 data from the Mexican government.

Ortega, 20 years old, left his home in Tlapacoyan, Mexico in mid-May to join his mother in Florida as well as earn enough money to build a home for him and his newly pregnant girlfriend. His mother reportedly sold a mobile home to pay for his smuggling fee, but smugglers asked for an additional $2,000 for a safer route.

Meanwhile, Lopez, 32 years old, left on June 8 from Benito Juarez to get help for his youngest son who has autism.

Both of the migrants reportedly borrowed thousands of dollars and paid extra to secure what smugglers promised to be a comfortable trip avoiding the dangers of illegal border crossing.

Texas Truck Tragedy Smugglers Promised Safe Travel to U.S. - Family

The family members also noted that smugglers promised to reach the U.S. without danger.

"You won't go through the desert ... there won't be any danger," Lopez's wife, Adriana Gonzales, recalled what she heard from one of the smugglers who called her husband. The smuggler also promised that the trip her husband availed is "100% safe."

Meanwhile, Ortega's mother warned her son that the air might run out in the truck, a few weeks before he embarked on the journey.

Both migrants were promised to travel alone or in small groups for a short time.

Migrants Ortega and Lopez Updates Their Family Amid Smuggling Journey to the U.S.

Ortega sent photos and videos to his relatives including a photo where he was at a comfortable stash house, and he was given pizza beer and even allowed to play video games. Lopez meanwhile sent a video to his family where he stayed at a private hunting lodge, which he called "super cool."

Lopez communicated to his family on June 21 for the last time, telling them that coyotes (smugglers) would be confiscating his phone. Ortega on the other hand last texted his mom on June 22, as he got worried about the number of migrants who arrived at the safe house.

On June 27, the truck with 53 dead migrants, including Lopez and Ortega, was found in San Antonio, Texas.

Ortega's mother tried to get in touch with the smugglers, but she was blocked after 30 attempts. She later traveled to San Antonio to identify his body which was returned to his hometown.

According to reports, violence, poverty, and COVID-19 exacerbated the migration from Latin America to the United States.

Reuters noted that smugglers also utilize riskier methods, including 18-wheeler big rigs, in bringing migrants into the United States. United Nations data suggests that vehicle and transport-related border deaths grew more quickly than any other cause between 2020 and 2021.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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