Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol successfully disrupted human smuggling operations throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
On Friday, RGV agents received a request for assistance from the Edinburg Police Department at a residence in Edinburg, Texas. Agents were advised the residence was suspected of operating as a human smuggling stash house. Officers and agents were granted access inside the home and discovered 56 illegal aliens being harbored inside. Agents identified 11 unaccompanied alien children among the group. Border Patrol took custody of 56 individuals.
Later that evening, Rio Grande City Border Patrol (RGC) agents received a call for assistance from the Escobares Police Department at a suspected stash house in Roma, Texas. RGC agents arrived on scene along with Starr County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers. Authorities made contact with the individuals inside the residence and determined everyone inside was illegally present in the United States. In total, 13 illegal aliens were identified as nationals of El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico.
On Saturday, Weslaco Border Patrol Station agents responded to a DPS vehicle stop in Edinburg, Texas. DPS requested assistance in searching for several subjects who absconded as soon as the vehicle pulled over. Responding agents encountered 11 subjects to include the suspected driver. DPS took custody of the driver and vehicle, Border Patrol took custody of the remaining individuals who were determined to be illegally present in the United States.
On Sunday morning, RGV agents working near La Gloria, Texas, encountered two flatbed work trucks traveling together on FM 755. As agents attempted to catchup to one of the vehicles, the driver abandoned the vehicle near the side of the road. A search of the abandoned vehicle led to the discovery of six illegal aliens hidden inside the vehicle’s compartments. Moments later, agents located the second vehicle and attempted to conduct a vehicle stop by activating their vehicle emergency lights. The driver of the suspect vehicle disregarded the emergency lights and drove off road crashing into a fence and eventually abandoning the vehicle inside a ranch. Agents observed multiple subjects exit the vehicle and abscond into the brush. A search for the subjects yielded negative results.
Later that day, McAllen Border Patrol Station agents assisted DPS and the Mission Police Department (PD) on a vehicle pursuit in Mission, Texas. DPS initially attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a red Chevrolet Tahoe in Sullivan City, Texas. The driver of the Tahoe continued eastbound until abandoning the vehicle in Mission, Texas, near Mile One and Inspiration Road. A search of the immediate area resulted in the apprehension of nine subjects. Agents determined six subjects were illegally present in the United States. Two individuals were turned over to DPS, and Mission PD took custody of one subject. The six illegal aliens were transported to the Border Patrol Station for processing.
Additionally, RGV agents successfully disrupted three more human smuggling attempts this weekend which resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals.
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.
