Border Patrol Discovers 58 Individuals Hidden Inside a Trailer

U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 35 (I-35) discovered 58 individuals inside a sealed tractor trailer during an unsuccessful human smuggling attempt.

The incident occurred during the evening of May 29, when a red commercial tractor hauling a white trailer approached the I-35 checkpoint north of Laredo. During an immigration inspection of the driver, a Service canine alerted.

Agents opened the trailer and discovered 58 individuals, all illegally present in the United States, from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. None required immediate medical attention. The individuals and the driver, a U.S. Citizen, were taken into custody pending further investigation. Both the tractor and trailer were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, smugglers continue to endanger the lives of individuals they exploit and the health and safety of our Nation. U.S. Border Patrol agents strive to prevent the flow of illegal immigration and slow the spread of COVID-19.