Border Patrol Intercepts Truck Carrying 42 Migrants in Texas

Migrants locked inside truck in Texas

Truck temperatures exceeded 91°F

Man faces federal charges

U.S. authorities filed human smuggling charges against a man accused of transporting 42 migrants inside a truck in Texas.

Why it matters: The case comes amid renewed concerns about the extreme conditions migrants face during irregular border crossing attempts into the United States.

Officials said the individuals were trapped inside the vehicle and exposed to dangerously high temperatures.

Migrant smuggling operation ends in arrest in Texas

Authorities in Texas intercepted a truck carrying 42 migrants locked inside under extreme heat conditions exceeding 91°F (33°C). Federal prosecutors charged the driver with human smuggling.#Latinus #InformaciónParaTihttps://t.co/jIo6FYn1L6

— Latinus (@latinus_us) May 19, 2026

The United States Border Patrol intercepted Juan Nasario Reyes, 43, an Oklahoma resident, on May 16.

The arrest occurred at a checkpoint in Sarita, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Authorities said agents decided to inspect the vehicle after noticing the driver appeared nervous during the checkpoint review.

When agents opened the truck, they discovered 42 migrants inside the vehicle.

The official statement noted that the truck had been locked from the outside.

Authorities also reported that temperatures inside the vehicle exceeded 33 degrees Celsius (91°F).

Investigators further discovered 16 grams of methamphetamine inside the truck.

Migrants came from several Latin American countries

Migrant Smuggling in Texas. Photo Shutterstock

According to authorities, the migrants found inside the truck are facing separate charges for entering the United States illegally.

The individuals came from several Latin American countries, according to Infobae.

Among them were migrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Cuba, and Brazil.

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The case has once again highlighted the dangerous conditions used by human smuggling networks.

Extreme heat inside enclosed vehicles remains one of the most serious risks faced by migrants transported clandestinely.

Texas authorities have reported several similar incidents in recent years.

Suspect faces up to 40 years in prison

According to federal prosecutors, Juan Nasario Reyes faces charges related to both human smuggling and drug trafficking.

If convicted, he could receive up to five years in prison on the human smuggling charges.

He could also face a sentence of up to 40 years for the narcotics-related offenses.

The case was filed less than a week after another migrant-related tragedy in Texas.

Local authorities discovered the bodies of six migrants inside a freight train car.

A seventh body was found near the railroad tracks.

Although irregular border crossings declined last year, migrant deaths along the border continue to be reported.

According to data from the International Organization for Migration, at least 131 migrants died along the U.S.-Mexico border during 2025.