EDINBURG, Texas – On Wednesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped multiple human smuggling attempts throughout the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
On Wednesday, McAllen agents working near Sullivan City, Texas, attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black Dodge pickup traveling at a high rate of speed away from the Rio Grande. Agents requested assistance from local law enforcement and within minutes a Sullivan City Police Officer arrived and took over the pursuit. The vehicle continued traveling for a short distance before coming to a stop. Agents and officers approached the vehicle and identified the driver as a juvenile United States citizen. Furthermore, it was discovered the juvenile had picked up six Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States. All the subjects were transported to the station for processing.
That same day, Rio Grande Valley agents traveling along Texas Farm to Market Road 681 near McCook, Texas, observed a Chevrolet pickup drive off the road and smash through a ranch fence. As agents responded to the wreck, they observed multiple subjects exit the pickup and run into the nearby brush. After a search of the immediate area, agents arrested five illegal aliens.
That night, agents working along U.S. Highway 281 conducted a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Tahoe near San Manuel, Texas. During the interview, agents determined the driver was a United States citizen traveling with three Mexican nationals who were illegally present in the United States. Border Patrol took custody of all the subjects and transported them to the station for processing.
Border Patrol processed the cases and subjects accordingly.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
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.