Deputy arrested on human smuggling charges after border checkpoint stop

An off-duty Bexar County detention deputy was arrested Thursday night after U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped him at a border checkpoint and allegedly found an undocumented immigrant in his vehicle. According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the stop happened June 5, 2026, at about 7 p.m. Border Patrol placed Detention Deputy Carlos Favela in custody on suspicion of alien smuggling. Favela has been employed with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for two years. The sheriff’s office said that in accordance with BCSO policies and Bexar County Civil Service, Favela will be issued a notice of proposed dismissal and placed on unpaid administrative leave pending termination. “Of course, we have to let due process run its course, but my intention is to separate this person from the agency as soon as possible," Sheriff Javier Salazar said. "He will never wear this uniform again,” A criminal investigation is being conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the sheriff’s office said. BCSO is also conducting a separate internal investigation at the same time. Attorney Joe Hoelscher, who is not associated with the case, tells us that BCSO will likely review documents from the criminal investigation CBP is conducting. He says CBP can pass these cases on to federal prosecutors, but similar cases he's seen have been referred back to state prosecutors as well. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WOAI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/news4sa/ WOAI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News4SA WOAI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/news4sa Subscribe to WOAI on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpsuSNiFkl4T4owtIb8QqWQ/?sub_confirmation=1 Daily News Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyFwDPyddKc7LjpC-mcnv_GVlPbuj84-M For more information, visit https://news4sanantonio.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 210.442-6397 WOAI is a TX based station and an NBC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WOAI #NEWS4SA #NEWS4SanAntonio #WOAI4 #SanAntonio