Police find 26 migrants in locked trailer after hearing them scream

Deputy heard screaming, knocking from trailer
When they opened latch on attached tanker, police found 26 people inside
Migrants were processed by Border Patrol, trailer taken to County Yard

Updated: Sep 5, 2024 / 04:16 PM EDT

Over two dozen people were found locked inside a trailer parked at a gas station in Eagle Pass, Texas on Sept. 4,2024. (Maverick County Sheriff’s Office)

(NewsNation) — Maverick County Sheriff’s deputies found 26 migrants locked inside a tanker attached to an abandoned tractor-trailer parked at an Eagle Pass, Texas, gas station on Wednesday.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber said a deputy patrolling the area heard screaming and knocking coming from the trailer at 12:44 a.m. When other deputies arrived, they reported hearing screaming and knocking noises as well.

After deputies found and removed them from the tanker, the migrants were processed on scene by Border Patrol agents. The trailer was taken to the Maverick County Yard.

According to the Eagle Pass News Leader, migrants were identified as being from Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador among other countries.

Schmerber said an investigation is ongoing.