Thousands of Central Americans expose themselves to the dangers of illegal human trafficking to reach the United States | Photo: EFE

Guatemala City, July 7 (RHC)-- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala (Minex) reports that the death toll of Guatemalans has risen to 22 -- among the dead victims of the incident in an abandoned tractor-trailer last week in Texas, United States.    

"Regarding the last update, after matching data with the Mexican Consular Network, information was obtained that two deceased who were believed to be of Mexican nationality, had false documents; and after verifying fingerprints with the Renap (National Registry of Persons), their Guatemalan identity was confirmed," the report clarified.

According to the official report, the nationals have been identified through the comparison of fingerprints and the review of photographs with family members, in the case of minors.

The publication offers a detailed list of names and data of the migrant victims, mostly young people, among them two indigenous adolescents.

Guatemalan consular authorities in San Antonio, Texas, set up telephone numbers to provide and receive information about the persons and the events, which are still under investigation.

Four Guatemalans who were hospitalized have been discharged, in the process of family reunification, and one is awaiting medical consent. Of the two who remain hospitalized, one is in critical condition and the other is in stable condition.

The Consular Network is processing the repatriation of the mortal remains of the confirmed Guatemalan nationals.

Among the 53 deaths counted so far in the unfortunate human trafficking incident, there were also 26 Mexicans and five Hondurans.

Thousands of Central Americans set out illegally every year to reach the "American dream", in search of stable employment and to escape the violence accentuated by the health crisis of COVID-19.