Texas Border Patrol detains more than 180 immigrants hiding in three houses

CBP authorities reported that “all the people rescued from these hidden houses were being held against their will. Trafficking and human trafficking are dangerous situations “

Photo: John Moore / Getty Images

On May 4, within hours of each other, Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement agents discovered and closed three hiding places and detained more than 180 undocumented persons in the city of Laredo, Texas , reported CBP in a statement

The first incident occurred when agents from CBP, HSI and the Webb County Sheriff investigated a possible hiding place in downtown Laredo. Officers contacted the occupants and discovered 68 undocumented immigrants .

The second arrest occurred later that night when agents assigned to the Laredo South Station acted on the information of a possible hideaway in South Laredo. The officers together with the bailiffs detained 50 undocumented persons .

During the past 24 hours, # multiagency efforts between # USBP Laredo Sector & local law enforcement partners resulted in the apprehension of more than 100 undocumented individuals. @ USBPChiefLRT # BorderSecurity pic.twitter.com/rWJEIc1Jfl

– CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) April 30, 2021

The final hiding place was discovered late that night after receiving information about a home in North Laredo. Agents responded and a search of the property resulted in the arrest of people who were in the United States without authorization.

Individuals detained in the three houses were identified as citizens of El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Neither individual was wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when found. People were provided with these equipment and underwent a medical examination and then processed.

The Border Patrol alerted that these houses where dozens of people are held by traffickers continue to pose a threat to national security and for the citizens of our nation, not only for its use by criminal organizations, but also are a danger to people who explode, by hiding them in tight and dilapidated spaces like these.

“All the people rescued from these hidden houses were being held against their will. Trafficking and human trafficking are dangerous situations. Help others by reporting suspicious situations you see; It could save a life, ”said Deputy Chief Patrol Officer Carl E. Landrum .

Human trafficking and immigration

Human trafficking is both a national and a global crime, and victims are trafficked within their own country, to neighboring countries and between continents. Victims of trafficking can be of any age and gender.

All over the world, people are on the move.

Many have been forced to become migrants due to conflict, climate change and economic instability.

These migrants are vulnerable to human trafficking. In the case of the people that the Border Patrol is finding and detaining by the hundreds in hiding places on the southern border of the country, many of them are victims of coyotes and are in captivity against their will.