Smugglers Continue to Disregard Public Safety
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
EDINBURG (News Release) – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents and local law enforcement partners disrupted three human smuggling events.
On May 17, McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) agents apprehended four migrants after the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. MCS camera operators observed a Chrysler sedan load up migrants in a well-known smuggling area near Sullivan City. Moments later, MCS agents encountered the vehicle and attempted to initiate a vehicle stop. When the driver failed to yield and sped away, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers assisted and took lead on the pursuit. The driver, a U.S. citizen, eventually came to a stop in a neighborhood and exited the vehicle. Agents apprehended four migrants still in the vehicle, and all determined to be illegally present in the U.S. DPS took custody of the driver to face state charges.
RGV agents working near Rivera attempted to initiate an immigration inspection on the occupants of a Dodge Ram on May 18. As agents activated their emergency equipment, the vehicle failed to yield and led agents on a pursuit. The vehicle then veered off the road and several occupants bailed out. Agents searched the surrounding area and apprehended six migrants unlawfully in the U.S. and the U.S. citizen driver. The driver has a prior conviction for reckless driving in Corpus Christi.
On May 19, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station agents encountered 140 non-citizens near Roma. The group was initially observed by the Texas Military Department (TMD). The large group consisted of 27 unaccompanied children, 57 family unit members, and 56 single adults. The migrants are from Cuba, South and Central America.
