DONNA, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations officers at the Donna International Bridge arrested a woman returning from Mexico Monday afternoon after a routine inspection reveals an adult male concealed inside the woman’s vehicle.
“I congratulate our officers for their diligent efforts. Not only did they apprehend a wanted person trying to re-enter the country illegally, but they avoided a possible tragedy,” said Port Director Walter Weaver, Progreso/Donna Port of Entry. “Concealing humans in factory compartments within vehicles is dangerous and a tactic commonly used by smuggling organizations, which could lead to suffocation, heat stroke, or even injury from vehicle accidents.”
at the Donna International Bridge
The apprehension transpired on Monday, March 26 at Donna International Bridge when a 2012 Nissan Altima arrived from Mexico. CBP officers at the primary inspection booth performed an inspection of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of a 26-year-old Mexican male concealed inside a factory made compartment. The subject did not have any entry documents and was taken into custody. A biometric query was conducted utilizing subject’s fingerprints that confirmed his identity and revealed he had an outstanding warrant out of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office for Possession of Marijuana.
CBP officers arrested the driver of the vehicle, a 21-year-old female United States citizen from Houston, Texas in connection with violations of federal immigration law. She was booked into the Hidalgo County jail.
The male passenger was processed for violations of immigration law and will be turned over to the custody of deputy U.S. Marshals for adjudication of the outstanding warrant.
Charges and allegations contained in criminal complaints are merely accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
