Five separate alleged human smuggling attempts at a single port of entry into the U.S. have been intercepted in less than 48 hours, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office.
The five separate attempts occurred over the weekend starting Friday morning and carrying through until Sunday when officials from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (CBP) officers at Del Rio Port of Entry in Texas caught five separate alleged human smuggling attempts in a span of less than two days, said CBP.
The first attempted breach happened on Friday morning at approximately 8 a.m. when CBP officers assigned to the Del Rio International Bridge encountered a passenger vehicle driven by a female United States citizen arriving from Mexico and a CBP officer referred all of the passengers in the car for a secondary examination.
It was during this examination and interview process when it was discovered the driver had presented two U.S. passports for an adult female, and a minor male. Upon further examination, both passengers were discovered to be citizens and nationals of Mexico and had no valid entry documents, according to CBP.
Just 19 hours later on Saturday at approximately 3 a.m., CBP officers encountered a passenger vehicle driven by a female United States citizen arriving from Mexico and the driver presented a U.S. birth certificate for an adult female, said CBP.
A CBP officer decided it was necessary to conduct a secondary examination which subsequently revealed that the passenger was a Mexican citizen with no valid documents to enter or travel to the U.S., CBP said in a statement detailing the five separate instances.
The third attempted breach happened about an hour later at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning when CBP officers encountered a passenger vehicle driven by a female United States citizen arriving from Mexico and the driver presented two U.S. birth certificates for two adult male passengers that were posing as minors, said CBP.
Upon a secondary examination and interviews, CBP officers discovered that both passengers were Mexican citizens and the entry documents did not belong to them.
The penultimate human smuggling attempt happened just over 12 hours later on Saturday evening at approximately 9 p.m. when CBP officers encountered a passenger vehicle driven by a male Mexican citizen arriving from Mexico and, following a further investigation, it was discovered that the driver and his wife, also a citizen of Mexico, were attempting to hide an adult male in the cargo area of the vehicle, said CBP.
“The male was later identified as their adult son, a citizen and national of Mexico, with no valid entry documents,” CBP said.
The final occurrence at Del Rio Port of Entry in Texas occurred on Sunday morning at approximately 7 a.m. when CBP officers encountered a passenger vehicle driven by a female United States citizen arriving from Mexico and the driver presented a U.S. birth certificate for a minor female, said CBP.
“A CBP officer referred all vehicle passengers for a secondary examination,” CBP said detailing the final attempted breach that they were able to stop. “Through interview and examination, CBP officers discovered the minor was a Mexican citizen with no valid documents to enter or travel to the U.S.”
In total CBP officers arrested three U.S. citizen drivers and one Mexican citizen for alleged violations of U.S. immigration law, and seized four vehicles in connection with these alleged human smuggling attempts.
“These five significant events serve as a resounding reminder that violating U.S. immigration law can carry significant legal and criminal consequences. The skillset applied in uncovering these would-be smuggling attempts serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to our border security mission,” said Port Director Liliana Flores, Del Rio Port of Entry.
In a span of less than 48 hours, five separate human smuggling attempts were thwarted at a US port of entry, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating this illicit activity. The incidents occurred at various points of entry along the US-Mexico border, underscoring the persistent efforts of criminal organizations to exploit vulnerable individuals seeking entry into the United States.
The first attempt was intercepted at a border crossing in California, where customs officers discovered a group of individuals hidden in a compartment within a vehicle. The individuals were found to be undocumented immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and now faces charges related to human smuggling.
In another incident, border patrol agents in Texas apprehended a group of individuals attempting to cross the border on foot. The group was reportedly guided by a smuggler who led them through treacherous terrain in an attempt to evade detection. Fortunately, border patrol agents were able to intercept the group before they could reach their intended destination.
At a different port of entry in Arizona, customs officers discovered a group of individuals hidden in a commercial truck attempting to enter the country illegally. The individuals were found to be in poor health and were immediately provided with medical attention. The driver of the truck was arrested and now faces charges related to human smuggling.
In yet another incident, border patrol agents in New Mexico apprehended a group of individuals attempting to cross the border hidden in the back of a pickup truck. The individuals were found to be undocumented immigrants seeking entry into the United States. The driver of the truck was arrested and now faces charges related to human smuggling.
The fifth thwarted attempt occurred at a border crossing in Texas, where customs officers discovered a group of individuals hidden in a compartment within a tractor-trailer. The individuals were found to be undocumented immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally. The driver of the tractor-trailer was arrested and now faces charges related to human smuggling.
These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by individuals who are willing to risk their lives in pursuit of a better future. Human smuggling is a lucrative business for criminal organizations, who exploit vulnerable individuals for profit. The efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat this illicit activity are crucial in protecting the safety and security of both migrants and the communities they seek to enter.
Authorities continue to work tirelessly to identify and disrupt human smuggling operations at ports of entry and along the border. Through increased vigilance, coordination, and resources, they aim to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable individuals and uphold the integrity of the immigration system. The thwarting of these five human smuggling attempts serves as a testament to their dedication and commitment to safeguarding the nation’s borders.
