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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Border security and human tragedy

    It's just 150 miles between Laredo and San Antonio — but the drive is long enough to be deadly — when almost 100 migrants are crammed into a tractor-trailer with no water, no relief from the heat and only a single source of fresh air for breathing. Eight people died during the trip and two more have died in a hospital.

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    By Warren Olney • Jul 26, 2017 • 1 min read

    It's just 150 miles between Laredo and San Antonio — but the drive is long enough to be deadly — when almost 100 migrants are crammed into a tractor-trailer with no water, no relief from the heat and only a single source of fresh air for breathing. Eight people died during the trip and two more have died in a hospital. Immigration officials call it evidence of a brutal criminal organization, as Congress prepares to vote on $1.6 billion for the president's Great Wall. While the Trump crackdown against illegal border crossings may be good business for human smugglers who exploit desperation, some border agents say the crackdown targets the wrong victims and encourages racist abuse on the part of their colleagues.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The San Antonio tragedy: How to make a border safe for everyone
    1. 1:24Senate's Russia probe focuses on foreign agents
    2. 7:24Border security and human tragedyYou’re reading this
    3. 41:07Trump announces ban on transgender troops
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Yael Even Or

      Producer, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Frank Bajak

      Associated Press

    • KCRW placeholder

      Pete Saenz

      City of Laredo, Texas

    • KCRW placeholder

      Denise Brennan

      Georgetown University

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The San Antonio tragedy: How to make a border safe for everyone
    1. 1:24Senate's Russia probe focuses on foreign agents
    2. 7:24Border security and human tragedyYou’re reading this
    3. 41:07Trump announces ban on transgender troops
    Back to To the Point