When police in Texas pulled over a semi truck tractor on IH-35 last week, they discovered the vehicle’s human cargo in yet another example of the relentless efforts to traffic illegal aliens into America despite the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies.
Last Friday, a trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted a traffic stop in La Salle County as part of Operation Lone Star and during a subsequent search of the vehicle, discovered 23 illegals stuffed into the sleeping area of the Freightliner truck tractor’s cab.
After finding the illegals who were from a number of Latin American countries, the police arrested John Amaya, a 24-year-old man from Laredo who was charged with 23 counts of felony human smuggling. Amaya was also driving the truck without a commercial driver license (CDL) which he claimed to possess but did not have on him at the time.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Police have just caught 23 illegal aliens crammed into a SEMITRUCK sleeper cab in Texas…
…and the driver didn’t have a CDL, who now faces 10 YEARS+ in prison.
These drivers are ALL over our roads.
ICE AT EVERY TRUCK STOP!pic.twitter.com/nSjbdu7tbO
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 5, 2025
“The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recovered 23 illegal immigrants hidden inside a truck tractor during an Operation Lone Star traffic stop in La Salle Co,” the DPS said in a statement.
“On Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, just after 5:00 p.m., a DPS Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a white Freightliner truck tractor for driving on an improved shoulder along IH-35. During the traffic stop, the Trooper learned that the driver, identified as John David Amaya, 24, from Laredo, was operating the vehicle without a commercial driver license (CDL). With assistance from a Border Patrol K-9, the Trooper ultimately discovered 23 illegal immigrants hidden inside the vehicle’s sleeping area,” the statement read.
Under #OperationLoneStar, DPS’ efforts to combat human smuggling remain in full force.
On Friday, a @TxDPS Trooper pulled over a truck tractor along IH-35 in La Salle Co. for driving on the improved shoulder. During the stop, the Trooper learned that the driver, John David… pic.twitter.com/b3WSJ49FOz
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) December 2, 2025
“Amaya was arrested and charged with 23 counts smuggling of persons – a state jail felony. The 23 illegal immigrants from Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico were referred to Border Patrol,” the Texas DPS said, pointing out that engaging in human trafficking in the Lone Star State is a very serious crime.
“As a reminder, Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation in 2023 creating a mandatory 10-year minimum prison sentence for individuals convicted of smuggling of persons. If convicted, Amaya could face prison time,” the agency noted.
The agency posted video of the traffic stop to YouTube.
(Video: YouTube/Texas Department of Public Safety)
The law that increased the minimum sentence for those convicted of smuggling illegals or operating stash houses went into effect last year.
“Human smuggling will now carry a 10 year mandatory minimum in Texas,” the governor’s press office stated in a post to X after the law was passed in October 2023.
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