140 undocumented immigrants freed from Rio Bravo home

Mexican Army troops raided a house in Rio Bravo, Tamps., and freed 140 undocumented immigrants and one Mexican national who were being held against their will, said an agency press release.

The raid took place Sunday evening when soldiers with the 84th Infantry Battalion were conducting regular patrols and noticed several individuals waving for help from a window at 702 Taxco St. in the Bugambilias neighborhood.

Inside the house, soldiers found 37 females and 104 males of various Latin America nationalities and arrested one alleged kidnapper who was guarding the place, officials said.

Rio Bravo is near the border southwest of Progreso.

Those rescued include one Mexican national, one Nicaraguan national, one Brazilian national, nine Guatemalan nationals, 15 Salvadoran nationals and 114 Honduran nationals, the release said.

The alleged kidnapper was identified as 29-year-old Jose Luis Mata.