35 Immigrants Found in Truck at Checkpoint

SAN CLEMENTE — U.S. Border Patrol agents found 35 illegal Mexican immigrants crammed in the back of a truck Monday at a border checkpoint.

The immigrants, who told agents that they were in the truck for several hours without food, water or bathroom facilities, were found in a box-type truck at the Border Patrol station on Interstate 5, officials said.

“This is a prime example of the utter disregard alien smugglers have for the safety of their human cargo and why the Border Patrol considers them public enemy No. 1,” officials said in a prepared statement.

The driver of the truck, a Mexican citizen, had been arrested and was expected to be charged with smuggling, officials said.

Most of the illegal immigrants would be granted a voluntary return to Mexico. Border officials said those with a criminal history would probably be detained.