21 illegal immigrants claim abuse by Texas captors

3 hours ago

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Twenty-one Guatemalan immigrants told authorities they were abducted from a Texas smuggler's safehouse and threatened, beaten and in some cases raped.

Border Patrol agents found the illegal immigrants packed into a mobile home east of Edinburg on Nov. 25. According to interviews, they had been stolen from another smuggler's safehouse in Hidalgo.

Their captors threatened them if they did not help obtain ransoms from relatives for their release, The (McAllen) Monitor reported in its Wednesday editions.

Three female immigrants told authorities they were taken into a back room and raped.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested four Mexican citizens in connection with the case.
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