Zamorano was apprehended by police after he was seen hiding in brush near the location where the trailer was discovered, and his cellphone contained evidence linked to the smuggling operation.

Homero Zamorano Jr., a Texas truck driver, pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025, for his role in the deaths of 53 migrants during a tragic smuggling incident in June 2022, marking the deadliest recorded smuggling attempt across the U.S.-Mexico border.

The trailer was carrying 67 migrants, with 53 ultimately dying; among the deceased were 27 from Mexico, 14 from Honduras, 7 from Guatemala, and 2 from El Salvador, according to Mexican authorities.

Authorities reported that Zamorano and accomplices were aware that the air-conditioning unit in the trailer was malfunctioning during the three-hour journey from Laredo to San Antonio, where temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The smugglers forced migrants to surrender their cellphones before entering the trailer, leaving them unable to call for help, and used an unknown powder to conceal the smell of the people inside from detection by patrol dogs.

During the three-hour journey, migrants reportedly screamed for help and attempted to escape the trailer, but 48 were found dead upon arrival, with five additional deaths occurring in hospitals.

Zamorano faces three charges, including conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death, and could be sentenced to life in prison, as stated by the Justice Department.

Christian Martinez, also arrested in connection with the incident, has pleaded guilty to smuggling-related charges, while four Mexican nationals were arrested in 2023.

President Joe Biden called the incident 'horrifying and heartbreaking,' highlighting the tragedy of those seeking better lives from poverty and violence in their home countries.

The smuggling operation allegedly involved collaboration among individuals in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, utilizing shared resources for human trafficking.

This tragic event is the deadliest recorded smuggling attempt across the U.S.-Mexico border, surpassing previous incidents, including the deaths of ten migrants in a truck in 2017 and 19 in a sweltering truck in 2003.

Zamorano faces a maximum sentence of life in prison after pleading guilty to three charges, as announced by the Justice Department.