San Antonio police found 20 illegal immigrants inside a home that had no water and no electricity just west of downtown early Monday.

The suspected human smuggling operation was hiding in plain sight inside the only bright lime green house in the 200 block of Southholme just west of downtown.

Carl Rusnok, spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said ICE responded at 1:20 a.m. Monday after being notified by SAPD.

Linda Torres, who lives nearby, said she had no idea that kind of activity was going on in her neighborhood.

"Poor people, they need the work for their families and everything," Torres said. "I understand that, but to have them there hiding?"

Another neighbor who did not want to be identified said he also was aback by the news.

"I've lived in this neighborhood 50 years and I've never in my wildest dreams thought that would happen in my neighborhood," he said.

Jorge Vasquez, who lives within sight of the house, said although illegal immigration is nothing new, "for it to be down the street from where you live, that's a shocker."

Beyond the broken front window of the small wood frame house, there was bedding and clothing scattered on the floors and trash cans overflowing with garbage.

Annie Suarez, whose home is across the street, said she never saw any suspicious activity at the house.

"Nothing, the house is empty. I mean, we thought it was," Suarez said.

Martha Villarreal said she thought the house had been for rent.

Suarez and Villarreal said they were surprised to hear 20 men and women were being kept inside the tiny house.

Villarreal said if she had known, she would have tried to reach out to them.

"They are human and they needed help," Villarreal said.

Rusnok said no suspected smugglers have been identified, but the agency's Homeland Security investigators are pursuing the case. He also did not say where the
immigrants had come from and how long they were kept at the house.