51 undocumented immigrants who were smuggled from Mexico are arrested in Texas stash house raids, with 3 held on suspicion of human trafficking
- Border Patrol agents and cops in Laredo, Texas, on Friday discovered 51 undocumented immigrants who were hidden at two homes
- Authorities found 15 migrants at a stash house and 37 others at a nearby apartment
- CBP said the individuals were citizens of Guatemala and Mexico
- Authorities are investigating three of the individuals for human trafficking
At least 51 undocumented immigrants, including children, were arrested at two homes in Laredo, Texas, where they were being temporarily held after they were unlawfully ferried to the United States from Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection along with the Laredo Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety raided a house located on the 3900 block of Santa Isabel Avenue on Thursday.
In a statement, CBP said a ‘knock and talk’ raid was conducted at the stash house in West Laredo which led to the arrest of 14 migrants.
Pictured above are some of the 51 undocumented immigrants detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection following the raid of two homes Thursday in Laredo
Pictured are some of the 51 migrants from Guatemala and Mexico who were arrested by authorities in Laredo, Texas, last Thursday
A search warrant was subsequently granted for an apartment on the same property which led the agents to 37 more undocumented migrants.
CBP said at least three individuals from the group were being investigated for ‘harboring’ undocumented immigrants and human trafficking.
All of the individuals arrested at the two homes unlawfully entered the United States and were citizens of Mexico and Guatemala.
Authorities opened an investigation into three of the 51 undocumented immigrants who were apprehended in the multiple raids of homes that were used as secret hideout for individuals unlawfully entering the United States from Mexico. The three individuals are being investigated for ‘harboring of undocumented immigrants and human trafficking’
The apprehensions were the latest in a sweep of homes that served as illegal holding dens for migrants who were ferried across the Mexico-United States border despite the tough restrictions that have been set in place at the border throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 28, CBP and the Webb County Constable’s Office acted on a tip regarding suspicious activity at a home on the 4700 block of Chibcha Court in Laredo and detained 52 undocumented immigrants, including three children.
CBP said the individuals were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
On June 24, Border Patrol agents also participated in a warrant search of a house in the same block where last Friday’s bust took place and apprehended 26 undocumented immigrants from Mexico.