Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector Border Patrol Agents disrupt a smuggling attempt by the river and shutdown a human smuggling stash house.
Yesterday evening, agents observed several subjects by the river levee in Mission, Texas, run towards an awaiting Toyota 4Runner and Ford Escape. McAllen agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, however, only the Toyota 4Runner stopped. Upon pulling over to the side of the road, multiple subjects exited the vehicle and ran into the nearby brush. The Toyota 4Runner continued and absconded. Agents searched the immediate area and located four subjects, all determined to be in the United States illegally. The two suspect vehicles were not located.
Early this morning, RGV Sector agents received information regarding a residence being used to harbor illegal aliens. Border Patrol agents in coordination with the Pharr Police Department and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) conducted a welfare check on the Pharr, Texas, duplex where 44 subjects were encountered inside. The majority of the subjects were single adults and included one unaccompanied juvenile. An immigration inspection determined all 44 subjects were illegally present in the United States and are citizens from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The subjects were found in poor living conditions having to sleep near piles of trash held within the home. No human smugglers were located in the residence.
The subjects were medically evaluated and found to be in good health. Border Patrol processed the subjects accordingly.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
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