Six bodies were discovered on Sunday inside a shipping container at a Union Pacific rail yard in Laredo, Texas. A seventh body, believed to be linked to the same event, was found the following day near railroad tracks southwest of San Antonio.
Seven Found Dead in Texas Train Incidents Linked to Apparent Smuggling Attempt
Discovery of the Six Victims in Laredo
At approximately 3:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, a Union Pacific employee reported finding six individuals deceased inside a cargo train boxcar near the Laredo rail yard. The discovery was made near mile marker 13 on Jim Young Way. The Laredo Police Department is investigating the incident in cooperation with Union Pacific. The rail yard functions as a loading and unloading hub for trains.
Discovery of the Seventh Victim Near San Antonio
On Monday, July 21, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar reported that investigators found a seventh body. Sheriff Salazar stated that an alert from a container sensor indicated one of the containers had been opened over the weekend near the tracks. He noted that the container cannot be opened from the inside. The seventh victim was identified as a man carrying Mexican identification.
Victim Identification and Autopsy Findings
Dr. Corinne Stern, the Webb County Medical Examiner, performed an autopsy on a 29-year-old Mexican woman who was among the six found in Laredo. Dr. Stern ruled her death accidental due to hyperthermia (heat stroke) and stated that the remaining five victims likely also died of heat stroke. Autopsies for the remaining individuals are pending.
"The container cannot be opened from the inside." — Sheriff Javier Salazar
Identification cards and cellphones found on the victims suggest they may be from Mexico and Honduras. Fingerprints have been shared with U.S. Border Patrol via the Missing Alien Program to confirm identities and nationalities. The Mexican consulate has been contacted.
Timeline and Circumstances
San Antonio police received a call on Saturday from a relative of one of the container's occupants. The relative reported receiving a message stating that conditions inside the container had become very hot and that occupants were experiencing physical trouble. The person who sent the message is believed to be among the six deceased victims found on Sunday.
The train originated in Del Rio and split near San Antonio, with one section going to Laredo and another to Houston. Sheriff Salazar stated that this suggests more people may have been inside the container at one time, and that it is unknown if the container was opened to let people exit or to discard the individual found near San Antonio. Dr. Stern estimated the individuals died within eight hours of being confined inside the container.
Official Response
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is leading the investigation as a potential human smuggling event, with assistance from the Laredo Police Department and the Texas Rangers.
- Union Pacific released a statement expressing sadness over the incident and confirming their cooperation with law enforcement.
Context
Authorities have not confirmed if these deaths are linked to a specific smuggling operation. Human smuggling via trains crossing from Mexico is a known concern, as trains often slow or stop in border areas. Union Pacific has implemented inspection portals to scan trains for abnormalities.
Laredo is a major port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border and a common route for illegal movement. Dr. Stern noted a general increase in migrant deaths in the region compared to the previous year. According to Border Patrol statistics, about 40 people per day were encountered crossing illegally in the Laredo sector in March, making it the third busiest sector along the southwest border. Border encounters declined at the end of the Biden administration and reached record lows under the second Trump administration.
In a related context, in June 2025, two smugglers were sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 deaths of 53 migrants in a tractor-trailer in Texas.