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The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has unveiled a startling video that captures the discovery of 20 undocumented individuals hidden inside a semi-truck. This incident, which the agency has classified as an attempt at human smuggling, underscores ongoing concerns at the nation’s borders.
The footage, stemming from a traffic stop on May 18, features a white Volvo semi-truck in a rural location. Law enforcement officers can be seen pulling the vehicle over, after which the driver, identified as Miguel Angel Velazquez Chavez, a 25-year-old from Mexico, makes a run for it. His attempted escape, which included crossing train tracks, was swiftly thwarted by officers.
DPS has charged Velazquez Chavez with both evading arrest and smuggling of persons, a testament to the serious nature of the offenses involved. The dramatic video continues to reveal the officers’ inspection of the semi-truck, where they uncover numerous individuals crammed into the cramped sleeper cab.
The discovery, which took place on May 18, 2026, highlights the ongoing challenges and dangers associated with human smuggling. The video released by the Texas Department of Public Safety serves as both a reminder and a warning about the perils of such illegal activities.
The video then shows officers inspecting the semi-truck. When they pulled back the curtain to the sleeper cab, they found several illegal aliens packed into the tiny space.
VIDEO SHOWS 23 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOUND HIDDEN IN TRUCK CAB DURING TENSE TRAFFIC STOP: POLICE
In all, 20 illegal aliens were arrested, including four minors, according to DPS. They were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.
President Donald Trump and his administration have made it a point to crack down on illegal border crossings, rolling back Biden-era policies like catch-and-release, where border crossers were not detained after crossing illegally into the country.
State troopers and the Texas Department of public safety pulled over a tractor trailer smuggling 20 illegal aliens into the U.S. on May 18, 2026. (Texas Department of Public Safety)
In April, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that there had been zero releases of illegal aliens at the border for 11 straight months.
BORDER ARRESTS HIT LOWEST MARK SINCE LAST TIME TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE SAYS
“Eleven straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said at the time. “The world knows America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials also praised Trump for his work.
The Department of Homeland Security is currently undergoing a lapse in funding due to a partial government shutdown. (Getty Images)
“America First policies, real consequences, and a unified federal effort—backed by personnel, infrastructure, and technology—are how we’ve delivered the most secure border in U.S. history,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said. “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we’re building on what works, refining our approach, and locking in real border security. This isn’t temporary—it’s the new normal.”
The agency said illegal aliens have been significantly deterred from crossing the border illegally, and CBP has apprehended fewer than 9,000 people per month since Trump took office for the second time.