Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, TX – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents made 25 arrests and seized two pistols from five failed human smuggling events within 24-hours.
A white Ford F-150 and a brown Ford Explorer approached the primary inspection lane at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint. The vehicles were referred to secondary inspection after an agent observed nervous behavior and inconsistences with the drivers during the immigration inspection. At secondary inspection, agents questioned the three passengers of the vehicles and determined they were illegally present in the United States. Agents also discovered two semi-automatic pistols inside one of the vehicles. The drivers and passengers were placed under arrest and escorted inside the checkpoint.
Shortly after, a Weslaco Border Patrol Station agent received information regarding a black sedan near the Rio Grande south of Donna, Texas. Responding agents observed the suspect vehicle heading north and then make a U-turn, back to the river, where the occupants ran into the brush abandoning the vehicle. Agents apprehended four migrants and observed the driver and two other subjects abscond into Mexico.
RGV agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a grey GMC Acadia north of Edinburg, Texas. The vehicle failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit. The driver came to a stop near San Manuel, where he and five noncitizens were arrested without further incident.
Shortly after, agents conducted a vehicle stop on a blue Chevrolet Impala traveling north on U.S. Highway 281, north of Edinburg, Texas. As the vehicle came to a stop on the shoulder, numerous subjects absconded from the vehicle and ran west, across the highway causing two civilian vehicles to crash in their attempts to avoid hitting the subjects. Emergency medical services were requested and provided medical care for the drivers. Agents apprehended five migrants after searching the area, but the driver was not located.
Just before sunrise, near La Rosita, Texas, RGV agents observed a vehicle traveling north from the Rio Grande with its lights off. Responding agents located the vehicle after briefly losing visual contact and apprehended five migrants running from the vehicle toward the river. The driver and two subjects were observed absconding into Mexico.
All subjects are being processed accordingly.
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.
