On Thursday afternoon, a tractor-trailer carrying more than 100 Central American migrants crashed into a bridge over a highway in southern Mexico, killing 53 people.
Luis Manuel García Moreno, head of civil protection in Chiapas, said the truck was carrying 107 people when it crashed.
He said 53 died on impact, and 40 were injured and taken to regional hospitals.
"According to survivors, the majority appeared to be citizens of Guatemala," Morena said in a television interview with Foro TV.
At least 53 migrants killed in tractor-trailer crash in southern Mexico
— 🌎 Sarwar 🌐 (@ferozwala)
Along with the dead, 54 people were injured, said Ezequiel García, a spokesman for the Chiapas state prosecutor’s office. #Chiapas #Mexico
⚠️ Visual Warning⚠️https://t.co/yEbaHgLN2v pic.twitter.com/UhJzcBEYsh
At least 53 dead and more than 50 injured when a truck carrying illegal immigrants bound for the US overturned in Chiapas Mexico#Chiapas #IlegalInmigrants pic.twitter.com/ygFLPtolth
— Oscar∴🇺🇸 (@oscarcontrera)
Central American migrants travel in caravans and are often hidden in tractor-trailers like the one that crashed to avoid Mexico's National Guard and immigration authorities as they head north to the US border. Smugglers charge migrants upwards of $10k for the journey.
The migrant caravan was presumably headed to the US border. The US has recorded historic numbers of border crossings and arrests this year as the Biden administration fails to secure the border. In 2021, the US Border Patrol agents arrested 1.7 million illegal immigrants — the second-highest total ever.
Republican lawmakers have continuously called the chaos on the Mexico-US border and waves of migrant caravans headed to the US the fault of the Biden administration.
"Joe Biden's failed border policies have created the worst crisis at our southern border in 30 years. These policies are now incentivizing mass caravans of illegals to head to our southern border," House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) recently said.
"Instead of addressing the root cause of our border crisis, the Biden Administration is doubling down on their failed policies. It is past time for the Biden Administration to take action to secure our southern border and our nation," Stefanik said.
The Biden administration has welcomed undocumented migrants arrested at the border and disturbed them to shelters across the US.
If it weren't for the Biden administration's relaxed border policies -- maybe waves of caravans would avoid making the journey, and possibly the accident on Thursday could've been avoided.