Texas Border Business
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents discovered multiple stash houses in the El Paso Sector, leading to the apprehension of several migrants and United States Citizens in the last five days.
On Dec. 19, Ysleta Border Patrol Agents responded to a call for assistance from Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, after stopping a vehicle on Interstate-10 near Horizon, Texas. This vehicle stop by DPS Troopers led to Border Patrol Agents encountering two migrants and a United States Citizen driver. Further investigation conducted by Ysleta Border Patrol Agents concluded in the discovery of a stash house with five migrants inside in Clint, Texas. All migrants associated with these events were expelled under Title 42. The driver of the vehicle will face smuggling charges.
On Dec. 17, Ysleta Border Patrol Agents received information from the El Paso Sector Intelligence Operations Center regarding a possible stash house in San Elizario, Texas. Agents utilized the information provided and encountered five migrants inside the residence. While this event transpired, a person drove up to the residence. Agents questioned the United States Citizen driver who admitted to previously dropping off migrants at that location. The migrants were expelled under Title 42 and the driver was taken into custody.
On Dec. 16, agents assigned to the El Paso Station’s Anti-Smuggling Unit working with Homeland Security Investigations arrested 30 migrants in two apartments in the same complex. Among those encountered were citizens from Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Additionally, one Mexican citizen was identified as the principal smuggler in the event and was turned over to HSI to face smuggling charges. The 30 migrants were expelled to Mexico under Title 42.
Two hours later, information gathered from an arrest in Santa Teresa, New Mexico led Border Patrol Agents in Las Cruces, to encounter three migrants in a motel room. Two of the migrants were expelled under Title 42 and the third migrant was referred for prosecution under 8 USC 1326, re-entry after removal.
On Dec. 15, agents assigned to the Ysleta Station’s ASU assisted El Paso County Sheriff’s Officers with the execution of two warrants stemming from a previous smuggling investigation. Agents arrived at a home in El Paso, Texas and apprehended a female and a male that were involved with the smuggling of several undocumented migrants into the United States on Dec. 1.
“Holiday season or not, Transnational Criminal Organizations continue their exploitation of migrants,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “We have extraordinary collaboration among law enforcement partners in our region and we will continue to be relentless in targeting human smuggling and trafficking of persons.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.
