Mexico Trucker Online

They are believed to have smuggled hundreds of illegal immigrants into the United States but now, 41 truck drivers, guides, brokers, recruiters and smuggling leaders are facing criminal charges.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents started the investigation in Laredo but made the arrests across several American cities over the last seven weeks.

Investigators said the group used truck drivers to smuggle at least 376 illegal immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras into the United States.

Most of the immigrants were discovered tractor trailers and attempting to pass through different checkpoints in and around Laredo.

Most of the discoveries were made during routine inspections after they noticed suspicious activity coming from inside the trailers or they were alerted by on-site canines on duty.

Each immigrant allegedly paid $500 to $3,000 depending on their destination.

All 41 of the accused human smugglers have already appeared before a federal judge to face formal charges and have been provided a court date to plead their case.

UPDATE
From WOAI Channel 4

Most of the truck drivers arrested were from the U.S. Those arrested also include smuggling guides, brokers, recruiters and organizational heads.

LAREDO, Texas (Reuters) - Texas mayors on the border with Mexico are threatening to take the U.S. government to court and are encouraging ranchers to do the same to block construction of a fence to keep out illegal immigrants.

Six mayors fear the planned fence, part of Washington’s crackdown on illegal immigration, will hurt trade, split closely knit Mexican-Texan communities on both sides of the border and endanger wildlife.

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