EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents make 72 arrests from three migrant stash houses and three vehicle pursuits.
Wednesday morning, RGV agents requested assistance from Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies after receiving information of a residence in Donna, Texas, being used to harbor undocumented non-citizens. At the residence, they encountered 32 migrants from Central America and Mexico.
Yesterday afternoon, Donna Police Department requested assistance from the Weslaco Border Patrol Station after encountering several subjects at another Donna residence. Agents responded and determined the 15 subjects were migrants from Central America and Ecuador, illegally present in the United States. No caretaker was identified.
Last night, RGV agents working near Falfurrias, Texas, attempted to initiate a vehicle stop on a silver Ford truck to perform an immigration inspection on the occupants of the vehicle. The driver failed to yield and led the agents on a vehicle pursuit. The vehicle drove through a ranch perimeter fence, momentarily losing the pursuing agents, and eventually coming to a stop. Agents located the vehicle with one male subject, from Mexico, who needed medical attention due to pain in his leg. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The driver and other subjects were not located.
Moments later, RGV agents working near Linn, Texas, attempted to initiate a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet truck but the driver continued driving, leading the agents on a vehicle pursuit. Agents lost visual of the truck for a short period after it drove through a ranch perimeter fence and off-road. Agents encountered the vehicle abandoned and on fire inside the ranch. The San Manuel Fire Department was requested and arrived shortly thereafter to extinguish the fire. No subjects were located during this event.
This morning, RGV agents observed several subjects entering a white minivan near Ware Road south of Military Highway in McAllen, Texas. The agent activated his emergency equipment to initiate a vehicle stop, but the driver failed to yield and led agents on a short vehicle pursuit. The minivan pulled over to the side of the road near the McAllen, Texas, Border Patrol Station and several subjects were observed absconding from the vehicle. Agents apprehended seven migrants from Mexico, but did not locate the driver.
Additionally, agents apprehended 17 migrants at a suspected stash house in Hidalgo County, Texas.
Border Patrol processed all 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.
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.
~CBP~