A group of 10 suspected illegal migrants from Asia and Guatemala have been arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography at a house in Texas. The arrests took place in Chambers County, about 33 miles east of Downtown Houston, following a search conducted by the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
Law enforcement officials had to force entry into the premises after the occupants refused to allow them in during the 9 a.m. search. Inside the house, police found 10 individuals believed to be in the U.S. illegally. The immigration status of these suspects is yet to be determined by Homeland Security.
Several electronic devices were seized from the house, with their contents remaining unconfirmed. Additionally, restaurant supplies were discovered on the premises. The search was initiated based on a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children database, indicating possible child pornography downloads at the location.
CCSO Captain Bryan Baker emphasized the illegality of such downloads, stating, 'We're just not going to tolerate that in our county.' The suspects, whose faces were obscured in photos released by the Sheriff’s Office, included individuals of Asian descent and some from Guatemala.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. The suspects were taken to Chambers County Jail for processing by the federal agency. HSI revealed that the house was also being used as a stash house for human smuggling activities.
HSI Houston is collaborating with state and local partners to further investigate the case, which involves child exploitation, human trafficking, and human smuggling. The charges the suspects will face remain unclear as the investigation continues.
The CCSO emphasized that this is an ongoing investigation that will require extensive follow-up on investigative leads. The authorities are committed to uncovering the full extent of possible criminal activities related to this case.
