12 Migrants Found in Dangerous Human Smuggling Incidents

Border Patrol agents stopped a series of dangerous human smuggling attempts with migrants locked in trunks of cars and other high-risk situations.

In a series of incidents in several U.S. Border Patrol sectors, agents stopped four human smuggling attempts where the migrants were placed in life-threatening circumstances. The migrants were locked in the trunks of cars or otherwise packed like human cargo in situations where they could face severe injury or death in the event of a vehicle accident or abandonment.

On Saturday afternoon, Tucson Sector agents observed a man driving a Ford Focus approaching the Arivaca Road East Immigration Checkpoint. The agents referred the driver to a secondary inspection station for investigation of a possible smuggling incident. During the inspection, the agents found a 20-year-old Mexican man and two Guatemalan women ages 18 and 38 locked inside the vehicle’s trunk, according to Tucson Sector Border Patrol officials.

Agents observed that the older woman appeared lethargic and severely dehydrated after being locked in the trunk of the car during the heat of the afternoon. The agents called for an ambulance to transport the woman to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment, officials stated. Doctors treated her and released her to Border Patrol agents for processing.

Officials seized the vehicle and arrested the driver for human smuggling. The three migrants are being processed for immigration violations.

That same day, Del Rio Sector agents assigned to the Eagle Pass South Station near the Texas-Mexico border conducted an immigration inspection on a vehicle attempting to travel through the U.S. Highway 57 checkpoint, officials stated. During the inspection, the agents confirmed that the driver and his two passengers were U.S. citizens. However, an inspection of the vehicle revealed three illegal immigrants locked in the trunk of the car. The agents arrested the three U.S. citizens for human smuggling and processed the migrants for immigration violations. Each of the smugglers could face up to 10 years in federal prison on the smuggling charges.

“This case is another perfect example of the dangerous conditions human smugglers force upon illegal aliens. I commend the hard work and dedication of our agents in saving these immigrants from further exploitation and potential loss of life,” Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak said in a written statement.

Further east along the border, Laredo Sector agents stopped two additional smuggling attempts where migrants’ lives were put at risk.

On Sunday, agents assigned to the Interstate 35 checkpoint observed a 2018 Chevy Suburban approaching the primary inspection lane. During the inspection interview, the agents determined that the driver and seven visible passengers were all U.S. citizens. However, further inspection revealed three additional passengers hidden under blankets in the rear cargo area. Officials determined the three additional passengers were illegal immigrants. They were transported to the station for processing on immigration violations.

Officials did not disclose the disposition of the smuggler and his U.S. citizen passengers.

On Monday, Laredo Sector agents conducted a traffic stop of a crew-cab pickup truck on Highway 83. Agents identified the driver and front seat passengers as U.S. citizens. However, agents determined that the three passengers in the back seat were Nicaraguan nationals who were illegally present in the U.S.

Officials seized the vehicle and took all five people into custody.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.