At least 140 undocumented immigrants and four people accused of human trafficking were detained in a safe house in Edinburg, Tex., by Border Patrol officers in what is considered the largest undocumented immigrants arrest ever in the state.
Enrique Mendiola, spokesman for the Texas Border Patrol informed that the arrests took place in Edinburg, 45 minutes away from the Mexico-US border, reported Expresión En Red.
The arrests were made based on information obtained after the previous arrest of nine undocumented immigrants last week in the same city. The detainees confessed to the existence of more undocumented immigrants taking shelter in a safe house, informed Mendiola to local media, as quoted by the news website.
The said information was used in a Border Patrol operation along with local police officers who secured 140 undocumented immigrants and four human traffickers hidden in the safe house.
"We're surprised by how more than 140 people could stay in a small house, where they couldn't go outside and lived off chips and soda, as indicated by discarded cans and wrappers," declared Mendiola, as quoted by newspaper La Crónica.
The same newspaper details that despite unhealthy conditions, the 144 detained people were in good physical and emotional states.
The undocumented immigrants, whose nationalities have not been specified, so far, were sent to the Border Patrol Detention Center, from where they will be deported to their countries of origin. The alleged human traffickers will remain in American territory where they will face charges for violating the Immigration Law, among others.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
