A tip from a resident led police in South Texas to 84 illegal immigrants shortly after they were smuggled into the United States from Mexico.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra’s deputies responded Thursday to the call of a “concerned citizen” who reported suspicious activity in the Rio Grande Valley.
“A concerned citizen called to report a tractor trailer arrive at a residence located in the area of Mile 12 1/2 N & Mile 6W and seeing people unloading from the trailer,” Guerra wrote in a post to Twitter.
Local law enforcement and federal agents from the Border Patrol who arrived on the scene found 84 people who had just been unloaded at a residential property.
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Happening Now:A concerned citizen called to report a tractor trailer arrive at a residence located in the area of Mile 12 1/2 N & Mile 6W and seeing people unloading from the trailer. Deputies working OPSG & USBP agents responded and rescued 84 UDI’s. Investigation ongoing pic.twitter.com/If9Y8CTwkQ
— Sheriff Eddie Guerra (@SheriffGuerra) October 6, 2022
The truck had dropped the group off after driving them some distance. It is not clear if the dozens of people were in the truck and if it passed through the port of entry or if all illegally crossed on foot and then were picked up by the truck and driven 12 miles north to where the discovery was made.
Law enforcement took those on-site to nearby Border Patrol stations for intake and processing.
Police have not disclosed the status of the driver and if the person was on-site and arrested.
The drop-off of the 84 onboard appears to be the result of a smuggling event gone wrong. A TikTok video posted Wednesday had solicited “someone who can drive an 18-wheeler right now” — from McAllen to Houston. Police believe the truck found Thursday was the one referenced in the social media video, according to Fox News.
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However, the truck aborted the drive just 15 miles east of McAllen, hundreds of miles from Houston.