Texas Governor Blames Biden’s ‘Deadly Open Border Policies’ after 46 Migrants Found Dead in Tractor-Trailer

Republican Texas governor Greg Abbott blamed President Joe Biden on Monday evening after 46 migrants were found dead in the back of an abandoned tractor-trailer in his state.

“These deaths are on Biden,” Abbott tweeted, hours after the bodies were uncovered in San Antonio.

“They are a result of his deadly open border policies,” the governor continued. “They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.”

Biden reversed several of former president Donald Trump’s border policies when he assumed office, including halting the construction of a wall. He is also attempting to end the “Remain in Mexico” policy and Title 42, a policy enacted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, under which nearly 2 million migrants were expelled from the U.S.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who was deemed “border czar” months into the administration, has been criticized for her hesitancy to visit the border and her focus on addressing “root causes” of migration from Central America.

Other Republican lawmakers also tied the Democrat’s border policies to the incident.

“How many more people have to die before Dems give a damn?” Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) tweeted.

“Today in San Antonio it was 102 degrees. Imagine being abandoned inside an 18-wheeler left to die … will [Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas] even mention their names?” Republican Texas Representative Tony Gonzales tweeted.

Mayorkas apparently blamed the incident on the “dangerous journey” the migrants take to enter the U.S.

“I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of life today and am praying for those still fighting for their lives,” Mayorkas tweeted. “Far too many lives have been lost as individuals — including families, women, and children — take this dangerous journey.”

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the bodies were discovered after a near-by worker heard a call for help from the trailer, according to KSAT. Inside, there were “stacks of bodies” and 16 survivors who were then transported to the hospital.

Police suspect the migrants were part of a smuggling attempt. While the cause of death hasn’t been determined, the temperature in San Antonio reached 102 degrees on Monday, potentially causing the truck to have dangerous internal temperatures.