Immigration & BorderBorder Patrol Arrests 253 Illegal Immigrants Near Mission, Interrupting Human Smuggling Attempts

The CBP stated in a press release that the individuals consisted “mainly of family units and unaccompanied alien children.”

“While Agents were screening the group of 166 a second group of 87, also comprised of families and [unaccompanied alien children], turned themselves in to agents,” CBP said. “The group was transferred to a local Border Patrol station.”

In a social media post, Chief Patrol Agent Brian Hastings provided images of some of the apprehended persons.

Border patrol officials also announced that they had interrupted human smuggling attempts earlier in the week, and in Roma, they had found a “stash house” where 38 illegal immigrants were located.

CBP indicated that agents coordinated with the Starr County Sheriff’s Office to arrest the individuals at the stash house, who tried to escape by climbing out of broken windows when authorities arrived.

The Roma Police Department reportedly confirmed the presence of an additional eight illegal immigrants at the stash house after they tried to pull over a Chevrolet Malibu and the people inside jumped out of the car and tried to get away before they were arrested.

After the stash house ordeal, CBP stated that a Ford F-150 “abruptly drove off the highway into a ranch fence” as agents were trying to stop the vehicle on U.S. Highway 281 in Hidalgo County. The driver escaped, but agents arrested the passengers inside the truck, who were determined to be 10 illegal immigrants.

“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,” CBP’s press statement said. “The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.”