Upon raiding a home in Fort Worth Wednesday night on suspicion of human trafficking, the FBI found and rescued 26 Honduran refugees from apparent human traffickers.
The FBI’s SWAT team arrested two suspects, identified as Carlos Plata Ibarra, 35, and Gonzalo Ramirez, 33.
“We can confirm we were onsite. However, no federal charges have been filed at this time,” FBI representative Katherine Chaumont told The Dallas Express.
The Fort Worth Police Department assisted in arresting the two suspects at the house in the 1800 block of Miller Avenue in Fort Worth.
“When I got the call at 1:45 a.m., my heart raced, and I went into action mode,” said Hilda Duarte, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) district director in Grand Prairie, in a provided statement.
“Our first task was to get them safely processed out of law enforcement custody and get them to housing where they could rest for a few hours,” explained Duarte. “Since then, we have worked to ensure they get medical help and essential basics and connect them to their family in the United States.”
Victims who spoke to local news outlet WFAA said they were smuggled in an 18-wheeler packed with people and brought to the house in Fort Worth.
“LULAC salutes the FBI agents involved in the raid,” said Domingo Garcia, LULAC national president. “LULAC will continue to work with them to stop human smugglers and traffickers.”
Because the 26 individuals were human trafficking victims, they will be allowed to stay in the United States and apply for asylum.
In late October, The Dallas Express spoke with Dallas Police Department Senior Corporal Brian Martinez about human trafficking taking place in Dallas.
He observed that the majority takes place off Harry Hines Boulevard and from Lombardy to Royal Lane in District 2, which is located in the district of December Crime Boss of the Month Jesse Moreno.