Shoulder Stop Uncovers 23 Migrants Hidden in Semi Sleeper

A routine traffic violation turned into a major smuggling bust after Texas DPS stopped a white Freightliner on I-35 in La Salle County for driving on the improved shoulder. The driver, 24-year-old John David Amaya of Laredo, was found to be operating the truck without a valid CDL, immediately raising red flags for troopers. During the inspection, a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle, prompting officers to open the sleeper compartment. Inside, they discovered 23 undocumented migrants packed into the small space, including individuals from Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico.

Amaya was arrested on 23 counts of smuggling persons, a felony under Texas law, and the migrants were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for processing. DPS officials say the incident highlights the dangerous tactics smugglers are increasingly using to avoid detection and the life-threatening conditions migrants face while being transported. What began as a simple shoulder violation quickly exposed a full-scale smuggling operation rolling through one of Texas’ busiest corridors.