http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/12375716.htm

Posted on Sat, Aug. 13, 2005


Police find illegal immigrants in truck

By Deanna Boyd
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - Police conducting a routine inspection of a semitrailer truck hauling vehicles Friday morning discovered eight illegal immigrants, including two children, hiding inside the cab's sleeper compartment.

Lt. Dean Sullivan, Fort Worth police spokesman, said members of the department's commercial vehicle enforcement unit stopped the truck about 8:45 a.m. at Interstate 20 and U.S. 377 at the Fort Worth/Benbrook line.

"After the driver's story revealed some inconsistencies, further inspection by the officers on the scene revealed eight illegal aliens hidden inside the sleeper in the cab of the truck," Sullivan said.

Four of those found were Mexican nationals, while the other four are from Brazil, Sullivan said. They included two boys, age 8 and 13, he said.

Sullivan said the truck evidently crossed the border at El Paso on Thursday morning.

"The information we have is an unknown person apparently paid for some of these people to be transported into this country illegally," Sullivan said.

The truck's driver, 36-year-old Jose Fuentes, was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants.

The truck, which police found was violating several federal transportation laws, was impounded. Sullivan said authorities are investigating whether the eight to 10 used vehicles being hauled by the truck are stolen goods that were smuggled into the country.

Sullivan said the eight illegal immigrants were taken into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.