37 Undocumented Migrants Found in Tractor Trailer at New Mexico Checkpoint

Over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint on Interstate 25 in New Mexico found 37 undocumented migrants hiding inside a tractor trailer during a routine inspection.

Agents from the Las Cruces Station, part of the El Paso sector, heard noises coming from the back of the trailer.

When they checked, they found people crouching behind the cargo. None of the individuals had proper immigration papers.

The migrants, who came from Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, and Ecuador, were taken into custody. They were sent to processing facilities under U.S. immigration rules.

El Paso Sector Chief Anthony Scott Good warned about the dangers of smuggling, saying criminal organizations mislead migrants with false promises. He emphasized that these operations often break U.S. laws and put lives at risk.

In the 2024 fiscal year, agents in the El Paso sector stopped 24 smuggling attempts involving tractor trailers and found 387 migrants. So far in 2025, they’ve already disrupted four similar operations and detained 97 migrants.

Officials explained that smugglers often hide migrants in trucks and other commercial vehicles, which is extremely dangerous.

The cramped spaces often lack ventilation, seat belts, and safety measures. Migrants can face extreme heat in the summer and freezing conditions in the winter.

 

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