The number of people who died in the Texas migrant tragedy has risen to 50, and Gov. Abbott blames the president's deadly open border policies: 'These deaths are on Biden'
Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, said that President Joe Biden's 'deadly open border policies' are to blame for the deaths of 50 migrants who were found in 103-degree heat inside an abandoned tractor-trailer.
The Republican leader of the state says that one of the most deadly cases of people sneaking across the border between the U.S. and Mexico happened because the president "refused to enforce the law."
Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has once again spoken out against President Biden's border policies and blamed them for the tragedy on Monday.
He tweeted: 'At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.'
In the past few months, Abbott and Biden have fought over immigration a lot. This is because the number of illegal people crossing the southern border into states like Abbott's has reached record highs.
In April, Abbott sent migrants by bus to Washington, DC, and left them on the steps of the US Capitol to make Biden look bad about the crisis.
Abbott also said that he would use $500 million to try to cut down on immigration. That meant sending in members of the Texas National Guard to try to stop the flow of people coming into the US.
On Monday, firefighters found "stacks of bodies" in a truck next to railroad tracks on the southern edge of San Antonio, near Interstate 35, which goes to the Mexican border. The truck showed no signs of water.
Police told The Texas Tribune that some of the people who died had stumbled out of the trailer before they died and were found a few blocks away. The migrants were sprinkled with steak seasoning, which seemed to be an attempt to cover up the smell they gave off while they were being moved.
Fourteen survivors, including four children, were taken to hospitals nearby because they were too tired or had heat stroke. They were found by a local worker who had heard a faint cry for help coming from the truck and went to check it out.
Police say they aren't sure they've found everyone from the truck and don't know how many people are missing in all.
Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's foreign minister, said Tuesday morning that 22 Mexicans, seven Guatemalans, and two Hondurans are among the dead. We still don't know who the other migrants are. The government says that none of the dead were children.
"Biden is to blame for these deaths. Abbott tweeted Monday night, hours after the bodies were found, "They are the result of his dangerous open border policies." "They show how deadly it is that he doesn't follow the law."
The incident is the deadliest case of smuggling people into the U.S. since 2003, when 19 people died after being packed into the back of a hot 18-wheeler from South Texas to Houston. On Tuesday morning, the death doll went from 46 to 50.
Under the Biden Administration, the U.S. has also seen a record number of migrants crossing the border, being rescued, and dying.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed President Joe Biden for the deaths of the 50 migrants found dead inside an abandoned tractor-trailer. The truck was found abandoned by railroad tracks and salvage yards by an individual who worked nearby
Law enforcement officers carry a body at the scene where people were found dead inside a trailer truck in San Antonio
Local priests from the San Antonio Archdiocese stand near the scene where a tractor-trailer was discovered with migrants inside outside San Antonio
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 damn?'
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.'
The DHS secretary said that the people who smuggle people are "callous people who don't care about the vulnerable people they use and put in danger to make money" and said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was looking into the case.
In response, the Democrats said that the GOP was to blame for the terrible deaths.
Congressman Joaquin Castro said: 'We must end Title 42 which has put desperate, oppressed people in grave danger of death. Title 42 has created more business, repeat business, for human smugglers.'
Texas gubernatorial candidate for former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke said: '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.'
