Eleven people have been indicted over an alleged migrant-smuggling operation in Texas that prosecutors say led to the deaths of seven people travelling in a rail shipping container. The case highlights the lethal risks faced by migrants transported in sealed freight containers, particularly in extreme heat, and remains an allegation pending court proceedings.

Federal prosecutors say the group began moving at least seven migrants from Acuña, Mexico, into Del Rio in late April 2026 before they were placed in a Conex container. Six bodies were found at a rail yard in Laredo in May and another person was found dead near railway tracks in San Antonio; the dead included four Mexican and three Honduran nationals. All 11 defendants face charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting the transport of migrants resulting in death.