Five Guatemalan Nationals Indicted for 2021 Chiapas Migrant Tragedy

U.S. and Guatemalan authorities arrest suspects accused of smuggling migrants linked to a deadly truck crash that killed over 50 and injured more than 100.

• The Justice Department announced the indictment of five Guatemalan human smugglers for their roles in a 2021 truck crash in Chiapas, Mexico, that resulted in over 50 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
• The suspects allegedly conspired to smuggle migrants from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States, including providing instructions to unaccompanied minors on how to respond if apprehended.
• The arrests were part of a coordinated international effort involving U.S., Guatemalan, and Mexican authorities, marking the third anniversary of the tragic event.
• The operation was conducted under the Joint Task Force Alpha initiative, which has led to over 330 arrests and 275 convictions in human smuggling cases since its creation in 2021.
• Officials emphasized their commitment to holding human smugglers accountable and warned against the dangers posed by these illicit networks.

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