Friday morning, Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, two of the men involved in the smuggling operation, will learn their fates.
SAN ANTONIO — Friday marks the three-year anniversary of the deadliest migrant tragedy in U.S. history.
53 people died on Quintana Road in San Antonio, trapped inside a tractor trailer.
Friday morning, two of the men involved in the smuggling operation will learn their fates.
Both Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega face up to life in prison. They were found guilty in March for their roles in the tragedy.
53 people died from heatstroke, investigators say they were screaming and clawing for help as temperatures inside the trailer soared.
Among the victims were six children and a pregnant woman. Only 11 people survived.
Prosecutors said during the trial that Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega had been running a smuggling operation since at least 2020.
They knew the trailer’s air conditioning didn’t work but still transported dozens of migrants from Laredo to San Antonio.
Five others were also found guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Sentencing begins at 9 a.m.