Texas Smuggling Ringleaders Sentenced in 53 Deaths

On the third anniversary of the deadliest human smuggling tragedy in U.S. history, Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega were sentenced for their roles in the 2022 San Antonio disaster that killed 53 migrants, including six children and a pregnant woman. Orduna-Torres, identified as the ringleader, received life in prison, while Gonzales-Ortega, his top assistant, was sentenced to more than 83 years; both were fined $250,000. The migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico had paid $12,000 to $15,000 each to be smuggled in a tractor-trailer with broken air conditioning, resulting in fatal heatstroke after a three-hour journey, with only 11 survivors. Several other co-defendants have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this year, and another alleged associate awaits trial. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that the sentences send a strong message to human smugglers. The case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat migrant exploitation.