U.S. and Guatemalan authorities announced the arrest of five people on suspicion of human smuggling. Arrests were made in Houston, Texas, and El Boqueron, Guatemala, after 50 people smuggled were killed in a tractor-trailer crash in Mexico's Chiapas state.
Homeland Security officials say five Guatemalans were involved in a December 9, 2021 mass casualty crash in Chiapas state in which a tractor-trailer with 160 migrants in the back crashed. said. The accident is believed to have killed 50 migrants and injured another 110.
“Today, thanks to the investigative efforts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the alleged perpetrators of a heinous crime that senselessly caused the deaths of more than 50 immigrants and injured more than 100 others will be held accountable. It is being said. [HSI] agents and our federal and international partners,” said outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred in Chiapas three years ago today is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, ruthless and dangerous. Prospective migrants should not believe their lies. do not have.”
U.S. HSI personnel and Guatemalan authorities executed an arrest warrant for Thomas Kino Canil, 36, in Guatemala. Alberto Marcario Sitic, 31 years old. Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Kino, 24 years old. HSI agents in Houston also arrested a fifth Guatemalan, Jorge Agapito Ventura, at a residence in Cleveland, Texas.
Five Guatemalans are charged with conspiring to bring foreign nationals into the United States with endangering life, serious bodily injury, and death, according to court records obtained by Breitbart Texas. ([8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(i), (v)(I), (a)(1)(B)(iii), and (a)(1)(B)(iv)])
Outgoing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland added, “The Department of Justice continues to hold accountable those who we say prey on vulnerable immigrants, resulting in more than 50 deaths and 100 deaths.” These are the individuals responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in injuries.” Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held responsible for a deadly crime. ”
Alamdar Hamdani, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said in a written statement that the arrests were made on the third anniversary of the crash that killed 50 immigrants and injured 110 others. “While this crash occurred across borders, it is essential that the pursuit of justice transcends borders,” Hamdani said.
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan immigrants, including minors, into the United States,” said Chief Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. It is claimed that some of them have died,” he added. The tractor-trailer they were traveling in overturned in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Today's announcement, which marks three years since the victim's death, demonstrates the Bureau's determination to hold smugglers everywhere accountable for their ruthless pursuit of profit and disregard for human life. ”
The Department of Justice stated:
This indictment is the result of a concerted effort by JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland will work with DHS to consolidate the Department of Justice's investigative and prosecutorial resources to combat the proliferation of large and dangerous smuggling and human trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. Therefore, JTFA was established in June 2021. Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama in June 2024 to combat human smuggling in Darien. JTFA is the Southern and Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous members of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Division, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Division, the Office of Enforcement Operations, the OIA, and the Violent Crimes and Extortion Division. Provided by the Department.
JTFA also relies on significant law enforcement investments from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA operations have resulted in the arrest of more than 330 leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of human smuggling domestically and internationally. There are more than 275 convictions in the United States. More than 225 serious prison sentences were handed out. and the confiscation of large amounts of assets.
Breitbart Texas has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the immigration status of a Guatemalan man arrested in Cleveland. No immediate response was received before publication.
bob price He is an associate editor and senior news contributor on the Breitbart Texas Border Team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston What is your point? sunday morning talk show. He is also the president of blue wonder cancer care products.
