Illegal Immigrants Found in Wal-Mart Truck in Texas

In McAllen Texas, four illegal immigrants were found hiding in the back of a Wal-Mart truck, and the driver along with two possible accomplices were all accused of attempting to smuggle them through a checkpoint with the Border Patrol at a Border Control checkpoint approximately an hour north of the Mexican border in Texas. The authorities behind the arrest were acting on a tip that he had done this before when they located and arrested the driver, Alejandro Hernandez, as well as two additional suspects on Thursday. The arrest went down just south of a checkpoint at Falfurrias, and the four Mexican nationals were also taken into custody during this time.

Documents were filed in a federal court on Monday that allege that Hernandez unloaded a delivery at the Wal-Mart in McAllen, and then stopped at a truck stop in Edinburg, picking up four immigrants in the process. According to authorities, the immigrants were brought to the meeting place by Leonor Gomez and her mother, Santos Gomez Moreno. The two women proceeded to follow the Wal-Mart truck north, intending to transport the immigrants back to the van after they passed through the Border Patrol checkpoint, as the Falfurrias checkpoint is about an hour north of the Mexican border.

After authorities were tipped off to Hernandez's activities, Wal-Mart assisted the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in identifying the truck. The tip came as a result of previous activities, as investigators state that they believe that Hernandez had done this more than a half dozen times at least. He was identified as possibly using his truck as a means of smuggling illegal immigrants through the checkpoint which is what drew attention to him and allowed authorities to find him and catch him in the act. According to the Wal-Mart company spokesman Don Fogleman, Wal-Mart associates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is lawful and ethical, and this is a situation of deep concern for the company.

Hernandez does have an immigration attorney, but they have apparently not yet had the chance to speak to one another.