Migrant Rescued from Burning Truck Credit Border Patrol for His Life

During a federal court hearing in McAllen, Texas, on Tuesday, Jacob Lix-Par expressed gratitude to the Border Patrol for saving his life. In June, Lix-Par, a 41-year-old undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, was rescued from a burning tractor-trailer along with 38 others in a dramatic scene that was captured on video.

Lix-Par appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane after being charged with re-entering the United States illegally following a prior deportation. According to a report by Valley Central, a local news outlet in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, he stated during the hearing, “I was kidnapped by some people who forced me to get on the trailer. And that trailer started to burn. If it weren’t for the Border Patrol, I would have died.” Following this testimony, he was sentenced to ten months in prison.

As reported, Lix-Par had been living in Houston for around 20 years until his arrest for driving under the influence in September 2025. This arrest led to his deportation just weeks later. He re-entered the U.S. in November, a decision that resulted in his arrest by the Border Patrol right after crossing the border near Roma, Texas.

Following a brief stay in jail for his illegal entry, Lix-Par was deported again to Guatemala. He made another attempt to cross back into the U.S. in June 2026, which led to his rescue from the burning trailer near Falfurrias, Texas, the very next day.

On June 4, 2026, a tractor-trailer approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint for inspection. While the driver was being questioned, a Border Patrol K-9 team conducted an open-air search, and the dog signaled the presence of hidden individuals or illegal items. The driver then took off, prompting a chase.

Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Chris Olivarez shared that Texas Highway Patrol troopers joined the pursuit, using a tire deflation device in an attempt to halt the fleeing vehicle. Despite the attempt, the driver continued to flee until the truck eventually stopped, only to be found engulfed in flames by responding officers.

A video shared by Olivarez on social media showed the intense rescue effort, where Texas Highway Patrol troopers and Border Patrol agents desperately worked to unlock the trailer and free those trapped inside. Remarkably, all 39 individuals were rescued just moments before facing certain death.

Two individuals inside the tractor cab were arrested and charged. The case, USA v. Holguin-Florentino et al., is ongoing in the federal court system in McAllen, Texas, with both men still in federal custody.