Delaware News Hub
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Local police reported that two migrants died in a container inside a train they stopped east from Uvalde, Texas. Another person was found in critical condition while another was in serious condition.
In Friday night news releaseUvalde police stated that they “received a 911 phone call from an unknown third-party caller advising there were numerous undocumented immigrants ‘suffocating’ inside of a train car.” According to police, the train was stopped by US Border Patrol as it was traveling on Union Pacific tracks.
According to a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, 17 people were discovered on the train. There were 15 men and two ladies. Union Pacific previously confirmed to Delaware News Hub that there were 15 people in two trains cars. According to the railway, two of them were killed and four others were flown to San Antonio. Six were then taken to local hospitals.
San Antonio’s University Hospital said they had received two adults, one in serious condition and one in critical condition.
The hopper car is used for transporting loose bulk commodities such as coal and grain, and three other people were also found.
Officials from HSI said that the two men who died were both Hondurans.
HSI opened an investigation into the incident.
“We are heartbroken to learn of yet another tragic incident of migrants taking the dangerous journey,” Alejandro Mayorkas (Homeland Secretary) said Friday night in tweet.
In another tweet Mayorkas was thanked “the Border Patrol Agents who responded to the scene and the HSI Agents who are supporting the investigation in Uvalde. We will work with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office to hold those responsible. Smugglers are callous and only care about making a profit.”
Union Pacific stated in a statement that they are “deeply saddened by this incident and the tragedies occurring at the border.”
“We take the safety of all individuals seriously and work tirelessly with law enforcement partners to detect illegal items and people riding inside or on our rail cars.”
Over the years, immigrants have increased in number. To avoid detection and gain entry to the US, they have chosen more risky routes. Immigrant rights advocates have attributed the rise in deaths at the border to policies that have made it more difficult for migrants to seek refuge in the US, according to Delaware News Hub’s previous reporting.
2022 was the year that saw the most deaths at the US-Mexico border. According to the Department of Homeland Security 748 people were killed.
Friday’s discovery follows a June 2022 incident in which 53 migrants died after being packed into a tractor-trailer and abandoned on the outskirts of San Antonio.