SANTA TERESA, N.M. – Agents from the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector and the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico announced the arrest of two suspected smugglers who transported four illegal aliens into the United States in a vehicle west of Santa Teresa.
On April 23, U.S. Border Patrol Agents were following footprints south of N.M. Highway 9, bordering the area between the Deming and Santa Teresa areas of responsibility. The area is frequently utilized for human smuggling.
Agents working in conjunction with CBP’s Air and Marine Operations located a vehicle directly north of the area and conducted an immigration stop. As a result, Border Patrol agents discovered four passengers in the vehicle, all of whom readily admitted to having entered the country illegally. The driver and a 45-year-old U.S. citizen passenger, Juan Ramon Palacios, were arrested on suspicion of Alien Smuggling.
The vehicle used in the smuggling scheme was a 2007 GMC Envoy. The four illegal aliens were attempting to conceal themselves by laying down and trying to be out of view of the Border Patrol Agents.
Two of the men were laying down in the rear seat, while two others were laying in the rear compartment of the vehicle. Once questioned, they stated they were citizens of Mexico and not in possession of any documents allowing them to be in the U.S. legally.
The vehicle and all six subjects were transported to the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station for processing and will be charged accordingly.