During Mayorkas' appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday Morning, he said that the incident is one outcome of what could happen when migrants take the "dangerous journey" to the United States.
"We saw so tragically in San Antonio, Texas, one of the possible tragic results of that dangerous journey and so many people don't even make it that far in the hands of exploitative smugglers," Mayorkas said.
He also said that the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly cautioned people not to take the "dangerous journey."
"We have said repeatedly and we continue to warn people not to take the dangerous journey," Mayorkas added.
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"I think the facts are still under investigation. It's a criminal case. I won't speak about the particulars -- those facts will be elicited in a court of law as the prosecution proceeds," Mayorkas told ABC News in a separate interview Sunday.
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Mayorkas also said that migrants get "false information from smugglers" that puts their lives in risk in these cases.
"And so, these migrants receive false information from smugglers. They put their lives, their life savings, in the hands of these exploitative organizations, these criminal organizations that do not care for their lives and only seek to make a profit," Mayorkas said.
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The remarks on Sunday come after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lambasted President Biden, saying that "those deaths" are on him.
Abbott said in a June 27 tweet that "These deaths are on Biden."
"At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law," Abbott said.
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As of Tuesday, several survivors were viewed as being in a critical state with injuries varying from brain damage to internal bleeding, according to the Mexican consul general in San Antonio. Court records state that the truck was registered to the 100 block of Arnold Drive in San Antonio.
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In all, four people have been charged in connection with the deadly incident. Two people, Juan Francisco D’Luna-Bilbao and Juan Claudio D’Luna-Mendez, were both charged as illegal immigrants in possession of firearms. At least one of those charged is an American citizen.
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