EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents disrupted three human smuggling events resulting in 15 arrests.
On Friday, a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) contacted the McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) requesting assistance with a vehicle stop involving possible illegal aliens on US Highway 83 in Sullivan City, Texas. An MCS agent responded to the location and upon arrival, conducted an immigration inspection on all the subjects. Agents determined that all four occupants were illegally present in the United States, to include the driver. DPS seized the vehicle and took custody of the driver (principal) to be charged with transporting illegal aliens. The agent took custody of the three illegal alien passengers and transported them to MCS and processed them accordingly.
On Friday evening, Corpus Christi (CCT) Border Patrol agents responded to a request from a Padre Island National Seashore park ranger for assistance with a vehicle stop in Corpus Christi, Texas. Agents responded to the location. An interview of the subjects, found that three United States Citizens were transporting two illegal aliens. All subjects were arrested and transported to the Corpus Christi Border Patrol Station for processing.
Yesterday, RGV Border Patrol agents working near McCook, Texas attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Silverado west of FM 681. When agents activated the emergency equipment of their marked service vehicle, the driver of the vehicle failed to yield. Agents temporarily lost sight of the vehicle due to the dust cloud. Moments later, the agents encountered the vehicle abandoned and determined the occupants had bailed out. After searching the area, agents apprehended six illegal aliens hiding in the brush. A principal was not identified among those apprehended. No property damage or injuries were reported and the vehicle was seized and the illegal aliens transported to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol station to be processed.
Border Patrol is processing the subjects 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.