Poncho Nevárez is the State representative for District 74.
It covers about 500 miles out of the 1200 miles of border where Texas and Mexico meet.
Nevárez says when it comes to smuggling incidents like the one in San Antonio, border security isn't the problem.
"I don't believe this stuff is in anyway related to border security or sanctuary cities. We've been having this type of smuggling event for years and years," Nevárez says.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick disagrees.
He wrote in a statement on Facebook that, "... these people paid a terrible price and demonstrate why we need a secure border and legal immigration reform so we can control who enters our country."
Nevárez says what causes people to come across under harsh conditions is the desire to get work, and that's what policies need to focus on.
"If we had some sort of better policy for immigration purposes, folks like that who are coming over here to work wouldn't feel compelled to smuggle themselves in a trailer," Nevárez says.
The driver is charged with illegally transporting immigrants.
Subscribe to Today in Houston
Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.