Several Texas truck drivers traveling along I-35 near mile marker 56 just South of Cotulla reported that multiple Texas Department of Public Safety units, La Salle County Sheriff's deputies and emergency rescue vehicles responded to an emergency where a number of undocumented individuals were discovered deceased at a semi-trailer on late Friday.
At least 778 undocumented individuals have been detained by the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector (USBPLS) agents and participating law agencies in a three week span.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
June 8, 2022
Cotulla, Texas - The Texas Department of Public Safety and the La Salle County Sheriff's Office are investigating the alleged discovery of multiple undocumented individuals found deceased near a semi-trailer along I-35 near mile marker 56 just South of Cotulla.
Several truck drivers traveling through I-35 near mile marker 56 reported on social media that multiple Texas Department of Public Safety officers and including multiple first responders were at the scene on late Friday to early Saturday.
According to the La Salle County Sheriff's Office (LSCSO), 911 dispatchers received calls alerting them that multiple individuals were in distress and trapped in an enclosed area (trailer) between Encinal and Cotulla.
La Salle county Sheriff Deputy Avila located the truck-tractor trailor near Artesia Wells with its doors open and between 20 to 30 individuals standing near the trailor. Deputy Avila noticed several individuals on the ground unresponsive possibility deceased, according to the LSCSO. Two individuals were reported deceased at the scene and the LSCSO has not released their identity or cause of death.
Deputies E. Gonzalez and J. Swiger were next to arrive and assisted in rendering aid to several victims. The remaining individuals absconded into the brush just east of the trailor.
Local, state, federal law enforcement officers including the USBPLS and the La Salle County Fire Rescue responded to the scene. Also, La Salle County Sheriff Anthony Zertuche, other command staff and off-duty deputies responded as well and were able to detain 30 undocumented individuals.
The incident investigation continued into Saturday. A total of 100 undocumented individuals were detained in the Artesia Wells area by law enforcement officers.
Deputy J. Ramirez was also able to intercept several attempts by smugglers trying to recover people from the smuggling trailor. Several smugglers were detained when one vehicle crashed into the brush and another smuggler occupying another vehicle had illegal narcotics.
Since May 27, 2022 to June 7, 2022 a reported 778 undocumented individuals have been detained in multiple areas in Southern Texas, according to the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector.
• On June 7, 11 undocumented individuals were arrested while walking through a ranch in El Cenizo, Texas.
• On June 6, the USBPLS, Webb County Constable from Princt 2 and U.S. Homeland Security Investigators arrested 60 undocumented individuals at a home in central Laredo.
• On June 1, the USBPLS reported that more than 60 undocumented individuals were detained in several incidents. In the first incident, Laredo South Station agents assisted the Laredo Police Department in a residential welfare check Cielo Drive and they discovered over 40 undocumented individuals at a Laredo home.
A few hours later, North Laredo Station agents assisted Texas Department of Public Safety South Texas Region troopers and detained 20 undocumented individuals at a local Laredo hotel.
• On May 30, an additional 5 undocumented individuals were detained after a vehicle the were traveling on the Bob Bullock Loop crashed while turning on Jacaman Road while being pursued by Laredo South Station agents. The driver was a U.S. citizen who was also detained.
• On May 28 through the Memorial Day weekend, the USBPLS reported that 11 human trafficking stash houses were discovered and shut down by USBPLS agents including local, state and federal authorities. More than 200 undocumented individuals were arrested by authorities.
• On May 27, the USBPLS reported that during last week, agents were able to stop 6 human smuggling events involving commercial vehicles resulting in the apprehension of more than 340 undocumented individuals.
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