FALFURRIAS, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued 18 people from a locked tractor trailer at the Falfurrias Checkpoint early Wednesday morning.
The rescue occurred when the refrigerated tractor trailer was referred for secondary inspection after a K-9 alert. During inspection, Falfurrias agents discovered the immigrants concealed within produce with the temperature set at 51 degrees. The immigrants had no means of escape from the trailer since it was locked on the outside. Agents had to use bolt cutters to remove the lock as the driver did not have a key.
The driver, a Mexican national, was arrested and referred for prosecution. The immigrants came from various countries to include Mexico, Columbia, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Kosovo and will be processed accordingly.
