No Days Off For Human Smuggling
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
EDINBURG (News Release) – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents encounter large groups of migrants, an abandoned unaccompanied child, and dangerous smuggling tactics.
On Nov. 28, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Harlingen Border Patrol Station camera operators observed two large groups enter the United States approximately two miles apart from each other in La Paloma, Texas. Agents encountered the smaller group of 48 migrants comprised entirely of Venezuelan citizens. Meanwhile, an additional 120 Venezuelan citizens entered the U.S. two miles to the east. Multiple migrants claimed they were housed in an unknown hotel in Matamoros, Mexico, and were transported in buses prior to making their illegal entry. The 168 Venezuelan citizens included 86 single adults and 82 individuals traveling in family groups. The ages ranged from as young as just 3 months old to 74 years old. The migrants were found in good health and transported to a Border Patrol facility.
At midnight on Nov. 28, McAllen Border Patrol Station agents encountered a group of 47 in Havana, Texas. Several migrants quickly reported they had picked up a little boy who was left abandoned by the river. The child was unable to communicate with agents and did not possess any identifying documents or information. The young child was only able to say, “Mama” and “Papa”. At that time, the child was believed to be approximately two years old. At a Border Patrol processing facility, agents discovered a phone number written on the child’s shirt. Agents were able to contact the boy’s mother who confirmed the child to be a three-year-old citizen of Honduras.
On Nov. 26, at approximately 10:00 p.m., a vehicle failed to yield to Border Patrol agents in Roma, Texas. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to assist and followed the suspect vehicle until it collided with the cinder block perimeter fence of a property near the intersection of Lolo Flores Road and Pena Road in Escobares, Texas. Eleven subjects were taken into custody, including the driver. The ten migrants are citizens of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Peru.
All subjects are being processed accordingly.
