The driver and passenger of a tractor trailer are facing federal charges after they sped away from a Border Patrol checkpoint before having to stop after their vehicle caught fire.

Bodycam footage published by WFAA-TV showed police officers frantically trying to open the trailer doors to save the dozens of suspected illegal aliens inside.

All of the migrants were pulled to safety, and no one was harmed.

On June 4 at about 8:36 p.m., Jairo Julian Holguin-Florentino was driving the tractor trailer through the Falfurrias checkpoint before a service canine alerted police to the possible presence of trafficked migrants.

The driver sped away on Highway 281 instead of stopping for a secondary inspection, and various agencies gave chase.

Police used spikes to flatten the vehicle’s tires in an attempt to stop the driver, but he continued to drive on the rims and the vehicle caught fire.

The driver and passenger were dragged out of the cab and arrested when police said they heard screaming coming from the locked cargo trailer of the burning vehicle.

Video showed officers rescuing dozens of migrants as smoke and fire engulfed the trailer. All of the migrants were pulled to safety, and no one was harmed.

Officials later said there were 39 rescued illegal aliens who were from Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.

The Texas Department of Safety published video of body camera footage from the incident on its YouTube channel.

RELATED: At least 46 illegal aliens found DEAD in a trailer in San Antonio, and death toll may climb higher

“This case highlights the serious risks associated with human smuggling, including dangerous and life-threatening conditions inside concealed vehicles,” reads a statement from the U.S. Border Patrol about the incident.

Holguin-Florentino is the father-in-law of the passenger who was arrested, Cristian Johansel Mirambeaux-Martinez.

“This incident is a reminder of the dangerous lengths human smugglers will go to when engaging in this criminal activity, and DPS is proud to work with our federal partners, like [U.S. Border Patrol], to stop them,” reads a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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​Bodycam footage, Burning trailer, Human smugglers, Us border patrol, Politics 

Philadelphia police have released surveillance video of suspects wanted in the fatal shooting of a Penn State student in South Philadelphia, WPVI-TV reported.

Billy Schmidt, 22, was shot dead early Saturday morning in the 1900 block of Durfor Street, the station said.

‘He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul, never bothered anyone, and for him to get shot like that is a travesty.’

Investigators said video released Wednesday shows suspects walking in the area of 20th Street from Ritner Street to Jackson Street before encountering Schmidt, WPVI said.

The suspects also allegedly were seen fleeing on foot in the area of 22nd and Porter streets after the shots were fired, the station said.

Schmidt, a Penn State senior, was shot just yards from his family’s home around 1:30 a.m., WPVI reported.

Family members told the station Schmidt was returning from a nearby bar where he was watching the NBA Finals with friends.

“He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul, never bothered anyone, and for him to get shot like that is a travesty,” Bill Schmidt, the victim’s father, told WPVI.

More from the station:

Surveillance video captured by nearby cameras appears to show the moments leading up to the shooting. In one video, a man can be seen throwing a cell phone. Seconds later, another man runs around a corner with Schmidt chasing him. The gunman then turns around and shoots Schmidt in the chest.

Bill Schmidt said he later found his son’s phone under a car and turned it over to police.

“I’m shocked he chased them after they took his phone,” the elder Schmidt said, according to WPVI. “From what we’re told, another person came out and shot him.”

Lifelong friends of Schmidt gathered at a memorial in South Philadelphia on Wednesday evening, the station said.

“Leaning on each other is all we did growing up, and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” Jaden Kelly of South Philadelphia told WPVI.

“I hope they find them. I want [them] in jail. That’s what I want. They don’t deserve to get to walk away from what they did,” Matthew Segal of South Philadelphia also told the station.

RELATED: Karmelo Anthony appeals his murder conviction in stabbing death of Austin Metcalf

Friends told WPVI they didn’t learn of Schmidt’s death until the next day; now they’re cherishing the moments they had with him Friday night into Saturday morning.

“The way he always said goodbye. It was a big hug and ‘I love you,’ and I’m happy we got to say that one last time,” Gino Russo of South Philadelphia recalled to the station.

A vigil was set for Thursday night, WPVI said.

“They are animals for doing that to him,” the victim’s sister said, according to a Fox News video.

In addition, police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, WPVI said, adding that those with information are asked to call 215-686-TIPS.

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​Crime, Philadelphia, Fatal shooting 

Vance Boelter admitted to shooting Mark Hortman at the entrance of the victim’s home before chasing down Melissa Hortman to shoot her numerous times and place his 9mm gun to her head.

The guilty plea ended the federal criminal prosecution in the horrific murders of a Democratic Minnesota state representative and her husband, as well as the attack on another political couple.

‘While the legal process may provide accountability, true healing requires something more from all of us.’

Boelter was arrested by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office two days after the June 14, 2025, attack that shook Minnesota.

He had impersonated a police officer when he showed up at the home of Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and shot him and his wife numerous times before he shot at their daughter, Hope Hoffman.

Boelter then went to the Hortmans’ front door to kill the couple.

Prosecutors said he had a list of other lawmakers he was targeting and visited the homes of those lawmakers but found no one at home.

John Hoffman, his wife Yvette Hoffman, and their family were in the audience at today’s hearing.

Boelter pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking, two counts of murder, and two counts of firearm discharge. He agreed to serve two life sentences and another 40 years in prison. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to not seek the death penalty, according to U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen.

“Political violence is a scourge in our nation,” Rosen said after the plea deal. “We now expect Vance Boelter will spend the rest of his natural life in prison without parole. To all of those who would commit political violence: this Justice Department will seek and obtain the longest prison terms for your offense.”

Boelter is also facing numerous state charges related to the attacks, including first-degree premeditated murder, attempted first-degree murder, felony cruelty to an animal, and impersonating a police officer.

RELATED: Exclusive: Assassination suspect Vance Boelter tells STUNNING inside story about shooting

The Hoffman family released a statement Thursday about the plea deal.

“There is not justice when our family and our state will never truly heal. While the legal process may provide accountability, true healing requires something more from all of us,” their statement reads.

“The choice we’ve made is to go forward with public service and being present for our community,” the family added. “The opportunity to justice is for Minnesotans and Americans to serve is to treat people with respect, to stop de-humanizing each other, and to stop dividing our country with hate and rhetoric.”

A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for the Hoffmans’ recovery raised over $265K.

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​Vance boelter, Melissa hortman, Political violence, John hoffman, Impersonating an officer, Politics 

After losing county funding, Los Angeles’ primary homeless services agency has lost federal funding due to its failure to address potential fraud.

The Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, alongside the Department of Housing and Urban Development, sent a letter on Thursday to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to inform the agency that it was immediately suspending funding amid an ongoing probe by HUD’s inspector general. The IG’s office is investigating any potential offenses by the LAHSA and its leadership, according to Fox News Digital, which obtained a copy of the letter.

‘Taxpayers will not bankroll LA’s fraud-filled homelessness industrial complex.’

The department reportedly outlined in its letter conflicts of interest, financial mismanagement, fraud, and oversight failures.

HUD has given the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, which is led by the LAHSA, nearly $1 billion over the last five years.

“Suspending LAHSA’s participation in federal government programs is a necessary step in accomplishing that critical mission in Los Angeles,” the letter read, according to Fox News Digital. “LAHSA’s failures have been so severe and pervasive that Los Angeles County has withdrawn its funding for the agency, and the City of Los Angeles is considering doing so as well.”

“HUD cannot ignore LAHSA’s wanton mismanagement of public funds. HUD’s mission is to reduce the plague of homelessness in America,” the agency’s letter continued. “Turning over billions of dollars from American taxpayers to an organization under investigation and suspected of gross misuse of federal funding and ‘obvious fraud’ does nothing to reduce homelessness. Indeed, diverting dollars from worthy programs to LAHSA merely makes the homeless crisis worse.”

RELATED: Socialist mayoral candidate is outraged at encampment outside her LA home — but it’s not what it seems

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

HUD’s letter quoted a federal judge who stated last year that the LAHSA had committed “obvious fraud” after it allegedly sought full funding for an 88-bed shelter despite maintaining only roughly half occupancy.

HUD also noted that a former top LAHSA official, Va Lecia Adams Kellum, was caught up in a conflict-of-interest scandal. The LAist reported in Feb. 2025 that the executive signed contracts that funneled $2.1 million to a nonprofit where her husband held a senior leadership position. The LAHSA told the outlet that Adams Kellum was “completely recused” from any business related to the nonprofit, and the contracts were inadvertently given to her for signature.

The LAist reported that the LAHSA has an $828 million budget this fiscal year, 46% of which comes from Los Angeles County, 35% from the city of Los Angeles, 11% from the federal government, over 8% from California, and a smaller amount from private philanthropy.

RELATED: Homeless people on Skid Row claim they were PAID TO VOTE — and not for Spencer Pratt

Scott Turner. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images.

L.A. County voted last year to cut $300 million in funding from the LAHSA, beginning in July. The county has formed a new department to address homelessness, which it believes will increase accountability by “streamlining bureaucracy to stretch our dollars further, and improving care for people experiencing homelessness.”

HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated that the agency “will fund results, not corrupt failure.”

“While hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars were funneled to LAHSA with little accountability, homelessness skyrocketed,” Turner wrote. “Taxpayers will not bankroll L.A.’s fraud-filled homelessness industrial complex.”

“For years, American taxpayers have been sending billions of dollars to Los Angeles to house the homeless and other vulnerable Americans. The result? Fraud and corruption. That ends today,” White House Task Force Executive Director Scott Brady stated, according to a HUD press release.

The LAHSA confirmed receipt of HUD’s letter and warned that the department’s actions “could put thousands of formerly homeless people back on the street,” the agency said in a statement provided to Blaze News.

“After initial review, this appears to be a blatant attempt to pull yet more resources from Los Angeles, a city they have targeted time and again, when it is clear that LAHSA has either corrected or is in the process of correcting nearly all of the issues raised,” the agency said. “Local oversight actions have already resulted in strong repairs and reforms to LAHSA’s internal controls, which are accountable and viewable to the public.”

The LAHSA noted that it is also modernizing its financial systems.

“If HUD’s inspector general actually conducts a fair review of LAHSA’s current and future practices, they will clearly see how our systems now allow us to clearly track the work and investments that have resulted in L.A. outperforming the nation by reducing homelessness over the last two years,” the statement continued. “While the review plays out, our immediate priority is to explore all available options to ensure that federal funds continue to support the thousands of people who have been housed through LAHSA and our broader rehousing system.”

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​News, Los angeles, Homeless, Task force to eliminate fraud, Housing and urban development, Hud, Scott turner, Los angeles homeless services authority, Lahsa, Politics