Neighbors told to lock up as dozens flee into Texas town after truck stop

Authorities say at least 58 immigrants were captured around Riviera while others remained on the run.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Up to around 80 immigrants fled into the South Texas brush early Friday after an 18-wheeler failed to stop at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita, triggering an hours-long manhunt that stretched across the small town of Riviera.

Border Patrol agents, BORTAC, Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue teams, local deputies, state troopers and constables searched along railroad tracks, through thick brush and around neighborhood homes after the immigrants scattered from the truck.

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Kleberg County Constable Precinct 3 Jesse Rivera said multiple agencies coordinated the large-scale search.

“We had Border Patrol, we had BORTAC, we had Border Star. We had a helicopter in the air also and one of the things I had expressed is move them further out into the brush and away from the community,” Rivera said.

Residents awoke to helicopters circling low over their homes as authorities searched for the immigrants.

“It was kind of strange to wake up and hear helicopters flying overhead and really close, really really close right over the house,” Riviera resident Cristina Suarez said.

Some homeowners took extra precautions while officers searched nearby.

“The constable came and talked to us. Seen my garage door open and said hey close your door be on the lookout so that’s what we did,” resident Patrick Labay said.

Kleberg County Sheriff Richard Kirkpatrick said the incident began around 3am on Friday when an 18-wheeler failed to stop for an inspection at the Sarita checkpoint. Deputies later stopped the truck at the Riviera weigh station, where authorities said dozens of immigrants climbed out and ran into nearby brush.

Residents said they watched officers search throughout the day.

“I talked to Border Patrol this morning and they said they caught about 30 or 40, something like that, and 30 or 40 left that got away, but I hadn’t seen nobody so I ain’t worried about it,” Riviera resident Marty Alegria said.

Rivera said tips from residents proved critical in locating several groups hiding on private property.

“They were calling me directly, they had people in their backyard and we were rounding them up out of backyards and things like that. One of our local volunteer firefighters went up with 27 out of the back of his pasture and so we picked them up. Last count I think we ended up with 58,” Rivera said.

Law enforcement sources told 3 News the truck driver was taken into custody along with at least 58 immigrants. Authorities continued searching Friday for those believed to still be hiding in the thick South Texas brush.