LAREDO, TEXAS – A fast response by U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Zapata Station resulted in the shutdown of a stash house near San Ygnacio, Texas.
This event occurred during the early afternoon of October 28, when agents acted on a report of suspicious activity near the Rio Grande River just south of the town. Within an hour of the report, the agents had followed foot sign to an abandoned residence on Ocampo Street.
As agents approached the front of the house, several individuals ran out the back door only to encounter additional agents who had secured the perimeter of the residence. A total of 27 Mexican nationals illegally in the United States were taken into custody pending further investigation. At the time of their arrest, none of the individuals were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). They were medically screened and processed accordingly.
With a noted increase in COVID-19 infections among detainees, the smuggling and housing of large groups of individuals in stash houses and close quarters without PPE not only endangers the people being smuggled, but the safety of our nation. The Laredo Sector Border Patrol encourages members of our communities to take a stand against these risks of potential COVID-19 infection. With your help, the U.S. Border Patrol can stem the flow of the pandemic and illegal immigration as the agency strives to develop a workforce of committed personnel who will dutifully dedicate themselves as public servants.
To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, download the “USBP Laredo Sector” App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. If you see something, please say something. You can also follow us on our social media platforms on Twitter and Instagram @usbpchieflrt and @usbpdepchieflrt and on Facebook at US Border Patrol Laredo Sector.