SAN ANTONIO — The trial is starts Tuesday for two men accused in the death of 53 migrants in the deadliest human smuggling attempt in U.S. history. The tragedy on Quintana Road happened back in June of 2022, when the 47 adults and 6 children died after being trapped in a tractor trailer without air conditioning.
Mexican nationals Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega are facing a charge for conspiracy to transport illegal migrants resulting in their death.
Felipe and Armando were arrested one year after the tragic discovery. They’re accused of planning the retrieval of an empty tractor-trailer and its handoff to the alleged driver.
In their indictment, it lists they worked with four other planners, sharing routes, guides, stash houses, trucks, and transporters to save money and minimize risk.
The indictment also alleges that Felipe and Armando knew the truck’s air conditioning didn’t work, and left the migrants trapped inside with no cool air and no water.
They’re the first suspects out of the six arrested to go on trial.
If convicted, both face life in prison.
The trial starts 9 a.m.
We’ll be following this case and update this story as it develops.