Laredo Man Arrested in Connection with Migrant Smuggling; BCSO Addresses Immigration Concerns
A Laredo man accused of smuggling 52 migrants across three separate incidents has been arrested, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced Saturday during a press conference.
Abelardo Herrera, 30, was taken into custody on Wednesday following an investigation that linked him to human smuggling operations occurring in June 2024, January 14, and January 22 of this year. Herrera has a prior history of arrests tied to smuggling activities, authorities said.
“This is someone who clearly hasn’t learned that his actions are both illegal and dangerous,” said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar during the press briefing. “I can tell you this guy has connections to the cartels.”
Despite being apprehended after a second smuggling attempt earlier this month, it remains unclear why Herrera was not held in custody at that time. Now, he faces multiple charges, including 10 counts of continuous smuggling of people, two counts of smuggling minors under 18, and engaging in organized crime. Federal charges are also anticipated.
“This guy just keeps resurfacing,” Salazar added. “I don’t have any reason to believe there’s an ongoing threat to the community at this time.”
Broader Immigration Concerns Raised
Herrera’s arrest comes amid heightened national debate over border security and immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has reiterated his administration’s hardline stance, vowing to strengthen the southern border and deport individuals entering the country illegally.
“All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump said shortly after his inauguration.
Concerns have also surfaced about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) potentially targeting sensitive locations like schools, churches, and hospitals. Sheriff Salazar addressed these rumors, emphasizing that his office has not been involved in or notified about such federal operations.
“I am not concerned with going into churches or going into schools,” Salazar stated. “People should be free to worship or get an education. If they’re legal enough to be in the school system, let them go to school in peace.”
Salazar acknowledged that social media posts have fueled speculation about possible raids in the Bexar County area but advised caution when interpreting such claims.
“I don’t know if these things are actually happening or if they’re just urban myths spreading online,” Salazar said. “What I can tell you is this: the Sheriff’s Office will obey the law, but we are also committed to respecting people’s rights.”
Herrera’s arrest shows the ongoing efforts to combat human smuggling in Texas and raises questions about the complexities of immigration enforcement at both local and federal levels.
