Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents stop four separate alien smuggling attempts resulting in the arrest of 12 people.
On Thursday afternoon, Kingsville agents working at the Javier Vega, Jr. Checkpoint conducted an immigration inspection on three subjects inside a Nissan sedan. During the inspection, agents identified one of the occupants as a Mexican national, illegally present in the United States. As agents attempted to arrest the driver for alien smuggling, the driver resisted. Agents took the driver and other occupants into custody without further incident.
That same day, agents working along US Highway 281 near San Manuel, Texas, attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado pickup suspected of smuggling after the driver almost caused a vehicle accident. The driver refused to yield to the Border Patrol vehicle’s emergency equipment and veered off the highway. The driver then struck a fence and drove into a private ranch, inadvertently disabling the pickup. Agents observed several subjectsabandon the pickup and run into the brush. A quick search of the area resulted in the apprehension of two illegal aliens.
The following day, Rio Grande City agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Ford Ranger suspected of smuggling aliens near Roma, Texas. As Border Patrol agents activatedtheir emergency lights, the driver refused to yield and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended after the driver struck a barbed wire fence and then fled the scene. Agents searched the area and apprehended one illegal alien.
On July 4, agents from the McAllen Border Patrol station observed several subjects emerge from the brush line along the Rio Grande near Mission, Texas, and enter a maroon sedan. Agents encountered the vehicle driving along Bryan Rd and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Due to the erratic and reckless driving exhibited by the smuggler, agents disengaged in the pursuit. Shortly after, the vehicle crashed into a telephone pole and several subjects were seen running from the disabled vehicle. With the assistance of an Air and Marine Operations air asset, agents located five illegal aliens and the driver. Agents identified the driver as a juvenile United States citizen. The juvenile was turned over to the Mission Police Department.
Border Patrol will process all subjects accordingly.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.
