A Houston man was arrested after authorities say he attempted to smuggle over three dozen illegal aliens into the United States.
Kenneth Gamboa, 25, has been charged with human smuggling after allegedly attempting to transport 40 individuals in a concealed compartment inside a box truck.
He was stopped on August 15 at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Jim Hogg County.
According to Border Patrol, a K9 unit alerted officers to possible narcotics or human cargo inside the truck. An X-ray scan revealed people standing in the storage area, and a subsequent inspection uncovered a false wall that created a hidden compartment.
Officers had to remove multiple boards, which had been screwed in place, to access the individuals—suggesting the group was being held without the ability to exit on their own.
Among the 40 people found inside, 26 had previously been removed from the United States. Those 26 are eligible for prosecution on illegal reentry charges, which carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
Gamboa faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
The case comes amid continued scrutiny of smuggling operations at the southern border. Earlier this year, two men tied to the 2022 San Antonio tragedy—in which 53 died after being left in a sweltering tractor-trailer—were convicted after a two-week trial. One was sentenced to life in prison, while the other received an 83-year sentence. Both were fined $250,000.
Recent federal data highlights the dramatic drop in border encounters under the current administration. In June 2022, there were 207,834 encounters along the southern border. That number fell to 144,556 in June 2023, then 130,415 in 2024. This past June, Border Patrol reported just 9,304 encounters.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R–SC) underscored the shift in a recent post, noting, “Last June under Biden: 27,000+ parole releases. This June under Trump? ZERO.”
