Border Patrol Discovers Hidden Migrants in Texas
Border Patrol agents in the Del Rio Sector encountered a startling situation while patrolling a country road near Eagle Pass, Texas. On September 14, they stopped a pickup truck that raised their suspicions and found four individuals cramped inside a portable water tank typically used on local ranches.
The vehicle, a 2007 Ford F-150, was spotted on a highway known for human and drug trafficking. After interviewing the driver, the agents inspected the truck and discovered the large plastic water tank in the truck bed. It took some effort to extract the individuals, as the opening needed to be made larger with tools to safely free them.
Upon questioning, the agents learned that all four individuals were in the U.S. illegally—two were from Bolivia, one from Cuba, and one from Colombia. Fortunately, none required medical attention. They were subsequently transported to the Border Patrol station in Uvalde, Texas, for processing and potential removal.
The driver, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen, is now facing felony charges for his role in transporting undocumented migrants. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is handling the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the driver, whose identity remains undisclosed.
Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony “Scott” Good remarked on the incident, highlighting the reckless nature of smuggling operations: “Smugglers don’t care for the safety of those they see as mere human cargo. Putting people in confined spaces with no means of escape is dangerous and barbaric. If not for the actions of our highly trained agents, this incident could have resulted in tragedy.”
Recent reports indicate that the Del Rio Sector has seen multiple attempts to smuggle undocumented individuals by hiding them in tiny spaces, especially on trains. This reflects the lengths cartels are willing to go in their smuggling efforts, according to Border Patrol insiders.
Moreover, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) noted that apprehensions in August along the U.S.-Mexico border have stayed below 10,000 for the sixteenth consecutive month, indicating a significant decrease in illegal crossings. Furthermore, instances of known evaders–those who manage to cross undetected–have plummeted by 98 percent compared to the peak levels seen during the Biden administration’s border crisis.
