Texas police arrest man for human smuggling after finding stash house with 46 migrants

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Rep. Anthony D’Esposito captures helicopter footage of migrants running across US-Mexico border

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., took a trip to the southern border with other members of the House Homeland Security Committee. He captured video from a helicopter ride showing migrants running into the country. 

The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested a 66-year-old Mexican national for allegedly trafficking 46 migrants who were found inside a stash house last week in Laredo, Texas. 

Manuel Gonzalez Rodriguez was already wanted by Border Patrol for an immigration violation when he was taken into custody for allegedly operating the stash house. 

Manuel Gonzalez Rodriguez, 66, will face federal charges for smuggling of persons.  (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Texas DPS officers noticed "suspicious activity" around 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the home in Laredo, a city on the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas. 

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Officers entered the home and located 46 illegal immigrants, including 32 men and 14 women from Mexico and Guatemala. 

Officers located 46 migrants from Mexico and Guatemala in the stash house.  (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Images released by Texas DPS show windows covered by blankets, boarded up doors, and sleepings bags on the ground throughout the residence. 

Rodriguez will face federal charges for smuggling of persons. 

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Texas DPS located the stash house as part of Operation Lone Star, which was launched by Gov. Greg Abbott two years ago to address the surge of migrant encounters at the southern border. 

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The operation led to more than 336,000 migrant apprehensions last year, as well as 23,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 354 million lethal doses of fentanyl.