72 People Found in Stash House

Agents are investigating who is behind the smuggling operation

POSTED: 06:05 PM CDT Apr 21, 2015 UPDATED: 11:43 PM CDT Apr 21, 2015

HIDALGO COUNTY -At the McAllen Border Patrol station, 72 illegal immigrants are being processed Tuesday night after a tip lead to a stash house bust north of Mission.

Border Patrol said they are still investigating who is behind that stash house. None of the human smugglers were arrested.

Just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, agents and sheriff's deputies raided a pink house on Myra Street near Bentsen Palm Drive.


Most of the illegal immigrants were from Mexico and El Salvador. Ten were from Honduras, five from Guatemala, and one from Nicaragua.


Agents said conditions inside the house were deplorable.


Border Patrol Spokesperson Oscar Saldana said, “What we advise the public, in general, to do is let us know. Let the Border Patrol know. If they see suspicious activity of any kind, any unusual vehicles, or some type of people that are usually in their neighborhood, to give us a call.”


Border Patrol said some of the signs of a stash house include unfamiliar vehicles coming and going from the property at all times of day and night, large amounts of trash appearing outside, and windows being covered with aluminum foil.


They said even the smallest suspicion reported to them can turn into a bust that gets people out of terrible conditions inside a stash house.


The Border Patrol Tip Line is 1-800-863-9382. You can always call local law enforcement.

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