10 Mexican nationals rescued from train car in New Braunfels

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – New Braunfels police on Tuesday helped rescue 10 Mexican nationals who were trapped inside a train.

Police said a Spanish-speaking man called 911 around 10 a.m. claiming that he and several other people were inside a transport bin and could not get out.

Police notified Union Pacific officials, who notified the train's conductor to stop near FM 306 near Comal Iron and Metals.

Officers, along with New Braunfels firefighters and EMS personnel, began searching the train cars. Just before 10:30 a.m., they located 10 men ranging in age from 17 to 38 inside a transport bin near Gruene Road between Rock Street and Ervendberg Avenue.

Crews searched the rest of the 80-car train and found no one else on board.

The men were identified as Mexican nationals and were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. Five were in dire need of medical attention because of dehydration, police said. The other five were released. All were taken into custody by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Police said it appears that the men were placed on the train outside Laredo and were on their way to Austin when the 911 call was made.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Union Pacific police launched an investigation into the incident.