Border Patrol agents across the Big Bend Sector were extremely busy Tuesday. Several groups of people were apprehended and rescued from extreme heat conditions.
“The on-going exploitation of people by transnational criminal organizations is truly concerning,” said Big Bend Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem. “Lives are put at risk each day as smugglers continue to put people into dangerous and unlawful situations.”
On Tuesday, September 8, 2020, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Sanderson Border Patrol Station on the eastern end of Big Bend Sector apprehended 22 individuals who were determined to be illegally present in the United States. The individuals were wearing camouflage in an attempt to avoid detection, but the agents on patrol detected the group and made the apprehension.
During records checks, Juan-Francisco, Augustin, a citizen of Guatemala, was flagged as a previously convicted aggravated felon, he was convicted of First Degree Rape in 2011. Juan-Francisco is pending prosecution for Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien. All remaining individuals were processed per applicable immigration laws.
Elsewhere, near Sierra Blanca Border Patrol Station, agents working in conjunction with the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Office rescued two separate groups of undocumented aliens stranded in the desert without adequate supplies and exposed to extreme temperatures. Two separate 911 calls resulted in life-saving efforts to rescue the two groups. In the first group, five were later determined to be citizens of Mexico and the remaining three citizens of Ecuador. In the second group, five were citizens of Mexico, one from Honduras, and one from El Salvador. After ensuring the health and welfare of the 15 subjects, all were processed per applicable immigration laws.
Additionally, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Marfa Station stopped a smuggling attempt involving four individuals from Mexico who were illegally in the United States at the checkpoint located on Highway 67 south of Marfa, Texas.
During processing it was determined that Torres-Torres, Rigoberto, a citizen of Mexico, had previously been arrested on August 26, 2002, and later convicted of Felony 2 Sexual Assault. Torres-Torres is pending prosecution for Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien.
Big Bend Sector Border Patrol agents, patrol 517 miles of the southwest border, an area that extends from Sierra Blanca, Texas to Sanderson, Texas.
The U.S. Border Patrol is made up of over 19,000 brave men and women who courageously secure our nation’s borders. Help us secure our homeland, find out more at cbp.gov/careers.