Over 200 Migrants Found Packed in Truck in Mexico After Calling for Help

Mexican authorities found 229 migrants packed inside a truck in the eastern state of Veracruz after those trapped began calling for help, in what officials say could signal a slight uptick in migration despite historically low crossings at the U.S. border.

José Manuel Pozos, Veracruz's deputy government secretary, said the migrants were discovered inside a stolen vehicle after it was taken to a police impound lot, where workers heard "shouting and banging" coming from inside, as The Associated Press reports. Most of those found were from Central America, including 17 minors, and several were dehydrated, he said.

The discovery comes as U.S. officials report a sharp decline in migration at the southern border. According to figures release last week by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agents recorded 26,963 encounters nationwide in February, down 22% from the previous month and 88% below the monthly average during the previous administration.

At the southwest border, apprehensions fell to 6,603, a 97% drop from peak levels in December 2023.

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said the trend reflects stricter enforcement policies. "February marks the tenth straight month that U.S. Border Patrol has not released a single illegal alien into the interior of the United States," he said, calling it "a clear reflection of the enforcement-first posture."

Despite the decline in crossings, the Veracruz case highlights the continued risks migrants face while traveling through Mexico. Smugglers frequently transport migrants in overcrowded vehicles to evade authorities, often under dangerous conditions. In past incidents, dozens have died after being trapped in sealed trailers, including 53 migrants found dead in a truck in Texas in 2022.

An employee at the Xalapa impound lot said the truck had been stopped roughly 28 miles southeast of the city before being towed. Hours later, workers realized people were inside and called emergency services. The migrants were later transported away in state police buses, though authorities did not disclose their destination.

Migration patterns in the region remain in flux. While crossings into the United States have dropped sharply, Mexican officials report that nearly 190,000 Mexican nationals have been repatriated from the U.S. since early 2025 under tightened immigration policies.

Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez said the government has assisted more than 130,000 returnees through its "México te abraza" program alone, which provides shelter, healthcare and job placement support. "Our country awaits them with open arms," she said.

Shelters in southern Mexico have also reported a modest increase in migrants heading north in recent months, suggesting that, even amid stricter enforcement, migration flows have not fully stopped.