Deputies discovered a tank trailer over the weekend near the small border city of Eagle Pass, Texas with 18 illegal immigrants sealed inside.
According to a source within border patrol, federal authorities were sent to investigate the truck and ultimately charged the driver, a 46-year-old Texas man, with migrant smuggling.
The driver faces a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the crime due to the endangerment of those sealed in the airtight container.
From Breitbart:
The source told Breitbart Texas the case could have had a tragic outcome. In addition to the dangers of suffocation being transported in a sealed container, the record-breaking heat in Texas could have easily resulted in the loss of life for those trapped inside the trailer, according to the source. Temperatures in the region have exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two consecutive weeks. Within the Del Rio Sector, according to the Border Patrol, ten migrants have died in the last seven days due to heat-related illnesses. During the same seven-day timeframe, more than 7,000 migrants were apprehended attempting to enter the United States. Most of the apprehensions occurred in Eagle Pass, making it one of the busiest crossing points in Texas.
