53 Migrants, 7 Smugglers Busted in 8 Failed Human Smuggling Attempts in Texas near Border

Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents disrupted eight human smuggling attempts during a three-day period ending on Friday. The interdictions led to the arrest of seven human smugglers and 53 migrants.

McAllen Station Border Patrol agents working the line near La Joya, Texas, on Wednesday, witnessed several suspected illegal aliens climbing into a Ford F-150 pickup truck parked on U.S. Highway 83. Agents attempted to catch up with the truck and eventually found it parked on a road near the La Joya school compound, according to information obtained from Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol officials.

The agents called for assistance from the La Joya Police Department and began a search of the area. The search led to the apprehension of the driver of the truck, a U.S. citizen, and nine migrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, officials stated.

A short time later, Weslaco Station Border Patrol agents received information about suspected illegal activity south of the border town of Alamo, Texas. The agents witnessed a Chevrolet sedan speeding away from the scene. The agents attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to yield and led the agents on a high-speed pursuit.

At some point during the pursuit, the driver pulled to the side of the road and let the passengers out. Alamo Police Department officers joined in the pursuit and followed the fleeing driver until he lost control of the vehicle and rolled over crashing into a chain-link fence. Police officers arrested the U.S. citizen driver.

Border Patrol agents returned to the dropoff location and began a search of the area and found seven illegal aliens. The agents arrested the migrants and transported them to a rally point for processing.

Later Wednesday night, National Guard soldiers performing border assistance duties observed several suspected illegal aliens loading into a Lincoln Navigator near a state park. The soldiers notified Border Patrol agents who responded and attempted to stop the SUV.

The driver of the Lincoln refused to yield, officials reported. After a short pursuit, the driver pulled over and several people fled into the brush. The agents searched the area and found eight illegal aliens and the U.S. citizen driver.

During the next two days, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents stopped five more human smuggling attempts. These interdictions led to the arrest of four smugglers and 29 illegal aliens, officials stated.

“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,” officials said in a written statement. “The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.”

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.