Four Migrant Smuggling Events Interdicted
U.S. Customs and Border News
EDINBURG – (News Release) Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents interdicted four migrant smuggling events with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) resulting in 28 arrests.
Just before sunrise on April 4, RGV agents working near Norias, Texas, attempted to initiate an immigration inspection on the occupants of a Nissan Titan pickup truck. The driver failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit. The truck drove through a ranch perimeter fence before the occupants bailed out of the vehicle. Agents searched the surrounding area and apprehended two migrants unlawfully present in the U.S. The driver was not located.
Later that morning, a video surveillance operator observed several subjects load into two vehicles at a gap in the border wall in Progreso. Responding agents attempted to conduct vehicle stops, however both vehicles failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit. The vehicles stopped at a residence where eight subjects were immediately apprehended, including the driver of one vehicle. The other driver absconded and was not located. The eight subjects are nationals of Mexico and unlawfully present in the U.S.
That afternoon, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers requested assistance from the Weslaco Border Patrol Station (WSL) for a vehicle stop in Pharr, regarding a possible smuggling case. Agents determined all the occupants were nationals of Mexico and unlawfully present in the U.S. DPS seized the vehicle and arrested the driver, a Mexican national. A total of four migrants were placed under arrest and transported to a Border Patrol station.
Shortly thereafter, DPS again requested assistance from WSL agents to determine citizenship of 13 subjects encountered after a vehicle pursuit in Donna. Agents responded and determined they were all unlawfully present in the U.S. DPS took custody of the driver to pursue state smuggling charges and agents transported the 12 subjects to be processed at a Border Patrol facility.
Border Patrol processed all subjects accordingly.
