Smugglers Continue to Place Migrants in Danger
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents rescued 88 migrants from a tractor trailer during a migrant smuggling event and encountered 632 migrants in five groups over the weekend.
Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint agents rescued 88 migrants, to include three unaccompanied children, from a sealed tractor trailer on May 28. Agents referred the vehicle to the secondary inspection area following a K-9 alert. Agents discovered the migrants hidden among pallets of onions. The temperature inside the refrigerated trailer was 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The driver, a naturalized Colombian citizen was placed under arrest. The migrants are nationals of Mexico and Central America. All subjects were found to be in good health.
On May 27, RGC agents responded to a report of a Chevrolet Trailblazer loading up suspected migrants at a park in Roma. As agents attempted to initiate an immigration inspection of the occupants, the driver failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit. The vehicle came to a stop in a neighborhood and the occupants bailed out. Agents apprehended five migrants unlawfully present in the U.S. The driver was not located.
On May 30, RGV agents responded to a unanimous tip of illicit activity at a residence in Edinburg. Agents convened at the residence and discovered four migrants who were unlawfully present in the U.S. One caretaker was identified and placed under arrest.
Over the weekend, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) agents encountered four large groups in Starr County. The groups were comprised of 226 family members, 177 single adults, and 137 unaccompanied children. The migrants are from various Central and South American countries, and Cuba. This morning, McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) agents encountered a group of 92 migrants near Havana. The group was comprised of 48 family members, 38 unaccompanied children, and 6 single adults. The migrants are also from the same countries as those encountered by RGC agents.
