Texas Man Arrested for Smuggling Immigrants

A man from Texas was taken into custody after nearly 20 illegal immigrants were discovered hidden inside his truck during a routine traffic stop. This incident unfolded on the evening of Friday, November 28, in La Salle County, located about 165 miles from San Antonio.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a trooper pulled over a white Freightliner truck that was driving on the improved shoulder of the Central Expressway. During this stop, which was part of Operation Lone Star, they learned that the driver, 24-year-old John David Amaya, was reportedly driving without a commercial driver’s license.

In the body camera footage, Amaya, who works for a private company, reacted defensively when an officer asked for permission to search the vehicle, questioning whether it was really necessary. He insisted there was no reason for a search.

However, the officer indicated that a police K-9 unit would be used to sniff around the truck. If the dog detected anything—well, then they’d have probable cause to conduct a search. Amaya mentioned he was talking to his lawyer at the time.

Shortly thereafter, additional officers arrived with the K-9. The dog alerted them, prompting the officers to search the sleeping compartment of the truck, where they eventually found 23 undocumented immigrants.

Following this, Amaya was arrested and charged with multiple counts of smuggling. The individuals found inside the truck were from various countries including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Under a 2023 law signed by Governor Greg Abbott, anyone found guilty of smuggling could face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. As of now, the DPS and Border Patrol have not responded to inquiries regarding the matter.