EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley agents arrest 22 illegal aliens during four failed human smuggling attempts.
Yesterday afternoon, agents working near Rio Grande City observed several illegal aliens emerge from the brush and get into a white Chevrolet pickup parked alongside the road. Responding agents requested the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) who located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Troopers discovered 10 subjects in the truck who agents identified as illegal aliens from the countries of Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador.
Border patrol took custody of the illegal aliens and DPS took custody of the driver.
That same evening, McAllen agents working in Hidalgo, Texas, witnessed a woman emerge from the brush and get into the bed of a Ford F-150 pickup parked nearby. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and a brief pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended after the driver stopped and fled the area. Inside the bed of the pickup, agents identified the woman as an illegal alien. Agents then searched the area where the woman was initially spotted and arrested additional illegal aliens.
Minutes later, Rio Grande Valley agents working near San Manuel, Texas, attempted to stop a blue Jaguar sedan traveling along Highway 281. The driver refused to yield to Border Patrol units and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, the driver abruptly stopped along the side of the highway and several subjects exited the vehicle and ran toward the brush. The driver then continued to flee in the vehicle. Agents arrested the passengers, who were identified as illegal aliens from the country of Mexico, and located the abandoned sedan miles down the road.
This morning, Falfurrias agents conducted a vehicle stop on a Jeep Grand Cherokee near the immigration checkpoint. As the agents interviewed the driver and passengers, they identified four of the occupants as illegal aliens from the countries of Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras. Agents took the subjects into custody and transported them to the checkpoint for processing. During a search of the vehicle, agents discovered a loaded .380 firearm and ammunition.
Border Patrol processed the cases accordingly.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.