EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Police in Juarez, Mexico, on Tuesday pulled three bodies buried under the floor of an abandoned house next to a downtown auto parts store. It was the latest clandestine grave found in a city where an average of three people a day are dying as authorities say criminal organizations are fighting for control of drug sales in neighborhoods.

Chihuahua state police took a canine unit to an address on Calle Hospital in the downtown Barrio Alto neighborhood early Tuesday afternoon. The police dog alerted handlers to the floor of two rooms inside the home and officers began digging.

Three decomposed bodies were found under ceramic tile floors, the Attorney General’s Office said.

Last February, members of a criminal gang hung a banner from an overpass alleging a rival had buried 30 bodies in a north Juarez home. Police only found five cadavers at three different homes in the area, but tips about clandestine graves continued to pour in.

In early March, police located six bodies in the Portal del Valle neighborhood – where another eight bodies were found last September. Tuesday’s find brings the number of cadavers pulled from clandestine graves in Juarez to 20 so far this year.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Lawyers for Texas and the Biden administration squared off during a court hearing Wednesday about the state’s controversial immigration law.

The lawsuit argues that the Texas law is an overreach, and immigration enforcement belongs to the federal government.

Texas says the federal government isn’t doing its job.

“Their version of Texas is one that is cold,” said Texas Civil Rights Project Daniel Hatoum.

A small group stood outside the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, protesting against Texas’ controversial immigration law known as SB-4.

“This would inevitably lead to racial profiling of black and brown folks throughout the state of Texas,” said Hatoum.

Lawyers for Texas argued SB-4 is needed, saying migrants are overrunning the border because immigration laws are not enforced.

“Now, to be fair, maybe Texas went too far…what Texas has done here, they have tried to develop a statute that goes up to the line of the Supreme Court precedent but allows Texas to protect the border,” said Aaron Nielson, Texas Solicitor General.

Both the ACLU and the Biden administration argue the law is unconstitutional because immigration enforcement is the job of the federal government.

“It’s vital for the federal government to be able to control it as one system instead of a patchwork from 50,” said Cody Wofsy of the ACLU.

This case is likely headed to the Supreme Court and Texas officials say they welcome the high court taking up the law.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Highlighted during the 24th annual Children’s Advocacy Center Conference is the story of Michelle Tuñon.

Michelle Tuñon was only 11 years old when the abuse began at the hands of her father.

On Wednesday morning—before a room full of community members—Tuñon tearfully shared the first time the abuse began and how it went on for over 9 years.

She did not feel safe coming forward until adulthood.

“The things that you are afraid of are going to happen,” Michelle Tuñon says. “You will lose family members, people will gossip about you, you will feel shame, and it’s not your shame to carry. It’s just a part of it, and I think something that people don’t understand—you’re not just a victim. It’s not just hard to accept that you’re a victim, but you also have to acknowledge that you’re a survivor and you’re also a victor.”

According to Norma Garcia, a crime victim services coordinator for the Laredo Police Department, she has seen a shift in the types of reports made on a day-to-day basis.

“In the past, we used to say ‘stranger-danger’ to our kids. You know, don’t talk to strangers because you know they can hurt you. Well now, that is no longer seen. I see more cases where the people who are close to the family are the ones perpetuating the assault,” she says.

According to the National Children’s Alliance, in 2021, 77% of the children who reported their abuse stated they were abused by a parent, making silence more dangerous.

“This is something that we keep within the family. We tend not to report because we are embarrassed that it was grandpa or stepdad or even dad or a sibling who perpetuated the crime,” Garcia says.

Garcia emphasizes that it’s important for community members to raise the alarm as the City of Laredo can provide needed resources and counseling.

Tuñon herself believes that the support she received upon coming forward helped her begin to heal.

”I am very lucky that I was able to not only create a life outside of this, but I know that it was because I was believed and it was because when I spoke up, the people that sat by me are still here with me,” she shares.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Three suspects are taken into custody following a traffic stop by the 1800 block of Green St.

It happened Thursday morning just after 3 a.m. when officers made a traffic stop on a black GMC terrain.

Officers on patrol had heard shots fired in the nearby area while on duty and had seen the vehicle speed away from the scene.

According to law enforcement, they were able to recover a semi-automatic handgun, spent casings, live rounds, two THC vape pens, and counterfeit U.S. currency in the car during the stop.

One juvenile, the 15-year-old driver, was charged and taken to the youth village.

Laredo police say Angel Castillo Maldonado, age 18, was charged with Discharging of Firearm (C/A) and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (C/A) while Raul Aguilar, age 17, was charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (C/A).

Both were taken to the Webb County Jail.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Late Wednesday night, a car ends up in a north central Laredo ditch after the driver loses control.

It happened at the 5800 block of San Dario, in front of the IBC Bank.

Witnesses say the people inside the car left the scene running.

So far, there is no word if any of those involved in the crash were found or if anyone suffered injuries.

A tow truck was called in to remove the car and the scene was cleared.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A woman is behind bars under child abandonment/endangerment charges, as Laredo Police determined there was imminent danger of bodily injury to the child, a (F/2).

At almost 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, officers responded to the 300 block of International for a child abandonment/endangerment call.

While traveling to the location, officers were notified that a 3-year-old toddler was barefoot, alone, had an unchanged diaper, and was found in the middle of a street by a non-relative who had been working close by.

The individual, a worker cutting grass in the area, noticed the child by themselves and contacted the property manager. The manager then contacted the police and looked over the child until authorities arrived.

According to Laredo Police, when they arrived, officers realized this wasn’t the first time the child had been found wandering outside alone and without supervision.

Maria Rubio, 22, eventually approached the officers at the scene and told them she was in the midst of doing laundry when she noticed her child was missing.

Laredo Police report that due to the seriousness of the situation, Rubio was eventually arrested and Child Protective Services were contacted and made aware of the incident.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - As the city of Laredo experiences growth, so do the demands placed on its Police Department to combat crime effectively.

On Monday, April 8, Laredo’s Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez will present different expansion options to the City Council at a workshop, aiming to enhance law enforcement capabilities throughout the city.

A key area of focus for expansion is south Laredo, where Chief Rodriguez emphasizes the need for a sector station with a structured chain of command, including a captain, lieutenant, sergeants, and officers.

Rodriguez highlights the limitations imposed by the current lack of space for departmental operations and training. “Right now only officers and sergeants report there because there’s no space. We don’t have the adequate space to perform our duties day in and day out so that’s one of the options,” said Miguel Rodriguez, Chief of Police for the Laredo Police Department. “The other one is the training facility. We don’t have a training facility. We’ve been pushing that because it’s one of the most important things for a police department to be able to train our officers to be more efficient and be able to provide the service our public deserves,” added Chief Rodriguez.

The workshop, open to the public, will begin at 3 p.m. at City Hall. Chief Rodriguez assures the community of regular updates regarding any changes related to the workshop through the department’s social media platforms.