A Texas man was arrested after authorities found nearly two dozen illegal immigrants concealed inside a truck during a routine traffic stop in La Salle County, Fox News reports. The incident took place on Friday, when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper pulled over a white Freightliner after observing the vehicle traveling on an improved shoulder along a central highway. The stop took place under Operation Lone Star, and the driver was identified as 24-year-old John David Amaya, who allegedly did not hold a commercial driver’s license, authorities said.
In body-camera footage, Amaya claimed to work for a private company and pushed back against the request to search the vehicle, asking, “Is that required?” He later told the officer he was on the phone with his lawyer, stating, “There’s no reason you should be searching the vehicle.” The trooper informed Amaya that a K-9 unit would be brought in to search, noting probable cause if the dog alerted to anything concerning. After additional officers arrived and the dog appeared to scent something, Amaya was detained.
Officers opened the sleeper area of the truck and uncovered 23 illegal immigrants hidden inside, according to the DPS. The individuals were taken into Border Patrol custody and identified as from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
According to DPS, under a 2023 law signed by Governor Greg Abbott, those found guilty of smuggling people face a mandatory 10-year minimum prison sentence.