Guatemalan Police Arrest 7 for Smuggling Migrants to Texas

GUATEMALA CITY — In a significant crackdown on human trafficking, Guatemalan police arrested seven individuals on Wednesday, accused of smuggling 53 migrants who tragically died of asphyxiation in Texas in 2022. The arrests follow extensive investigations into one of the deadliest human smuggling incidents along the U.S.-Mexico border. Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez announced that the arrests were made during 13 raids across three departments, highlighting a collaborative effort with U.S. Homeland Security and other national agencies. The investigation revealed that the migrants were abandoned in a malfunctioning tractor trailer during a sweltering three-hour journey from Laredo to San Antonio. When authorities opened the trailer, 48 migrants were already dead, including 27 from Mexico, 14 from Honduras, seven from Guatemala, and two from El Salvador. The smugglers allegedly forced the migrants to surrender their cellphones, leaving them without means to call for help. Among those arrested is Rigoberto Román Miranda Orozco, identified as the alleged ringleader, who faces extradition to the U.S. on multiple charges related to migrant smuggling resulting in death. The organization reportedly charged migrants up to $15,000 each for passage into the U.S., with fees covering multiple attempts. The Guatemalan government emphasized its commitment to combating organized crime and collaborating with international agencies in this ongoing fight against human trafficking.