Texas Department of Public Safety troopers working under Operation Lone Star intercepted a vehicle reportedly transporting nine migrants in Terrell County, according to a report published Thursday, Oct. 22.
The Spanish-language news outlet El Sol de Ojinaga reported that Texas Highway Patrol troopers stopped a vehicle allegedly being used to smuggle migrants from six Latin American countries.
The nine individuals were reportedly from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador and Colombia.
A photograph accompanying the report shows several individuals seated along a roadside near a red SUV. Some appear to be wearing camouflage clothing.
The report did not specify where in Terrell County the vehicle was intercepted, whether a pursuit occurred or whether the driver was arrested. Authorities have not publicly identified the individuals involved or announced any criminal charges in connection with the reported incident.
Operation Lone Star, launched by Gov. Greg Abbott in March 2021, is a state border security initiative involving DPS and the Texas Military Department. The operation targets unauthorized border crossings, human smuggling and other border-related criminal activity.
Terrell County, located in the Big Bend region of West Texas, shares an international border with Mexico. Its remote highways and ranchlands have been used as routes for migrant smuggling operations.
It was not immediately clear whether the nine individuals were transferred to federal immigration authorities or remained in state custody.
The circumstances of the traffic stop and the migrants’ immigration status have not been independently verified.
