U.S. Border Patrol Agents were busy this week disrupting many human smuggling schemes throughout the El Paso Sector.
Since early Monday morning to Friday, agents have disrupted 24 smuggling schemes involving over 160 migrants being smuggled. The encounters in El Paso are still at an all time high with over 192,000 encounters this fiscal year 2023, up to the end of January.
On Tuesday, agents from the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station were patrolling near Cloverdale, New Mexico when they encountered a suspicious 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. Due to suspicious behavior by the driver and other articulable facts, agents performed an immigration stop. The two front passengers immediately bailed out of the vehicle into the remote desert. Inside the Tahoe, 20 smuggled migrants were found crammed in the back of the SUV. The migrants were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. All the migrants were found to be in good health and processed accordingly.
On Thursday, March 9, during the early morning hours, Deming Station agents initiated an immigration vehicle stop on a white Ford cargo van on mile marker 94 of New Mexico Highway 9. When the vehicle stopped all the occupants bailed out of the vehicle running in all directions into the vast desert. After an extensive search, agents located all 23 occupants to include the driver, a 20-year-old Mexican male. The individuals were all Mexican nationals, found to be in good health and processed accordingly. The driver was formally issued an Expedited Removal and removed from the United States with a 5-year ban.
On the same day, agents working the Interstate 25 checkpoint in Truth and Consequences, New Mexico, encountered a 2004 Ford Expedition with 9 smuggled migrants located hiding inside the vehicle. The migrants were from Mexico, El Salvador, and Ecuador.
Transnational criminal organizations continue to profit and make millions of dollars by jeopardizing the lives of migrants and having no concern for their lives. The men and women of the El Paso Sector will continue to safeguard our Nation’s border in support of our National Security Mission.
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.
