16 arrested in Mercedes stash house raid

MERCEDES, Texas (ValleyCentral) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 16 people on Monday following a stash house raid in Mercedes.

ICE received a tip from an anonymous caller a day before the arrests, reporting that multiple undocumented people were being harbored at a residence in Mercedes.

Federal authorities contacted the Mercedes Police Department, which conducted a welfare check of the property.

The property owner admitted to harboring approximately 16 people inside the home.

The 16 people were identified as nationals of Nepal, Albania, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.

"This operation underscores the critical role that the public and local law enforcement partners play in identifying and disrupting human smuggling operations," said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Lippa.

The 16 undocumented people were taken into custody for immigration violations, and another person is being questioned for his role in human smuggling.