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  4. Joint Collaboration Leads to the Discovery of Four Stash Houses in the Rio Grande Valley

Joint Collaboration Leads to the Discovery of Four Stash Houses in the Rio Grande Valley

Release Date
Wed, 10/14/2020

EDINBURG, Texas – On Tuesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents working in collaboration with local and federal agencies disrupted four stash houses, which led to the discovery and arrest of 111 illegal aliens. 

Yesterday morning, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents received information of a residence in Donna, Texas, of operating as a human smuggling stash house. Agents requested the assistance of Hidalgo County Constables Office (HCCO) Precinct 2 in the investigation. Agents and deputies arrived to the suspected location and, as they approached the house, several subjects attempted to abscond through the windows. In addition to those subjects, agents and deputies observed several subjects inside. A total of 61 illegal aliens were removed from the residence without incident. The subjects encountered are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Minutes later, RGV Sector agents received information of a mobile home in Pharr, Texas, operating as a human smuggling stash house. Agents contacted Homeland Security Investigations and the HCCO Precinct 4 and requested their assistance in the case. At the mobile home, agents attempted to request entry from the homeowner. As they knocked on the door, several subjects exited the back door and attempted to flee before being taken into custody. Agents and deputies entered the residence and encountered several additional subjects. Law enforcement officers discovered 13 illegal aliens who were later identified to be from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico.

Later in the afternoon, agents working in conjunction with the HCCO Precinct 2 received information of another house in Donna, Texas, suspected of operating as a stash house. Inside the home, agents encountered and arrested seven illegal aliens.  Agents identified them to be from Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

Additionally, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents dismantled an additional stash house in Edinburg, Texas, and discovered 30 illegal aliens.

Border Patrol processed the subjects and cases accordingly.

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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021