Border patrol agents save 33 undocumented migrants locked inside U-Haul in sweltering heat

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    VAN HORN, Texas (KTVT) — Big Bend Sector Border Patrol agents saved 33 undocumented migrants who were locked inside a U-Haul box-truck in near 100 degree temperatures.

Twelve of them were transported with heat related illnesses to regional hospitals.

“Had our heroic agents not been able to free these trapped undocumented migrants, we could have seen 33 miserable deaths in this event,” said Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin. “Smugglers do not care what type of misery they put people through as they take their money.”

Around 10 p.m. on June 10, 2021, agents were alerted to suspicious activity related to a possible human-smuggling scheme near a McDonalds restaurant. Agents approached two vehicles, a Dodge Journey and a U-Haul box-truck. That’s when they found the group, who were close to perishing due to excessive heat and lack of fresh air.

Border Patrol’s Special Operations Group have trained emergency medical technicians embedded in the unit and were part of the response. They immediately began triage operations to determine who needed transport to regional hospitals and who could be treated on-scene. Many of migrants were treated for symptoms of dehydration on-scene.

Once recovered from their heat-related injuries, they were processed according to Big Bend Sector protocols. Homeland Security Investigations accepted the case for prosecution.

There were no casualties.

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