LAREDO, Texas – Overnight in two separate incidents within four hours of each other, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Hebbronville Station rescued several individuals attempting to further their entry into the United States via dangerous train concealment methods west of Bruni, Texas.
The first incident occurred during the mid-evening of September 18, when agents conducting a routine freight train check, found 14 individuals trapped inside a grain-hopper-train car. Several hours later, during the early morning hours of October 19, agents discovered another 13 individuals trapped in another similar train car.
In both incidences, agents had to utilize a ladder to rescue the individuals from the enclosed and dangerous containers. None of the 27 individuals found in the cramped quarters were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). All were medically evaluated and determined to be in the United States illegally from the countries of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. They were taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol.
The U.S. Border Patrol continues to stress the dangers involved in this type of human smuggling and furthering of illegal entry. Without the aid of a ladder or other means of exiting the train cars, these people’s lives could have tragically ended if they had remained trapped for indefinite periods of time. Additionally, by placing groups of people in these cramped spaces without the use of PPE, it heightens the risk of COVID-19 infection. The agents of the Laredo Sector will continue to stand at the ready to secure the Nation’s borders, prevent the flow of illegal immigration, slow the spread of COVID-19, and uphold the agency’s Core Values of Vigilance, Service, and Integrity.
To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, download the “USBP Laredo Sector” App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. If you see something, please say something. You can also follow us on our social media platforms on Twitter and Instagram @usbpchieflrt and @usbpdepchieflrt and on Facebook at US Border Patrol Laredo Sector.
