INTERNATIONAL: Bodies of Mexican migrants who died in a sweltering trailer truck during a failed smuggling attempt in San Antonio last month were repatriated on Wednesday (July 13) so their families can mourn them at home.

Twenty-five of the victims from Mexico – out of 53 victims – will be brought back to their places of origin, according to the Mexican government, who will cover the repatriation expenses.

Two flights with 16 bodies landed at the Toluca Airport, in Mexico State, departing from San Antonio, and a third one is expected.

Among those repatriated, there were some of the youngest victims – Giovanni (16) and Jair (19) Olivares, and their cousin, Misael Olivares (16), all them from Veracruz.

Coming from a small town in that eastern state, Atexquilapan, Teofilo and Yolanda Olivares told reporters weeks ago about the painful choice to let their children go on June 21, following in the footsteps of other cousins who migrated eight months ago to the United States.

Whatsapp messages between Jair and his father that read.

Jair: Yes, thank you. We are going to make a great effort to be back with the little ones, to be able to work, pay for everything and do everything we can. We will try our best.

Valencia: Are you going to be let out?

Jair: Apparently they will return for us shortly.

Valencia: Do you have shoes?

Jair: Yes, I got some sized-8.

Valencia: What is happening?

June 28, 2022

Valencia: Jair, talk to me son.

Valencia: Son, talk to me.

This was the last time they had contact with each other before Valencia found out the sad news about his son.

Hermelina Monterde, Misael's mother, said her son had ambitions to go beyond the family's shoemaking tradition.

Teofilo said the family agreed to pay a smuggler 200,000 pesos ($10,000) for each of his sons to be taken to the United States. He added he had to pawn his home to make the payment.