Repeat rap sheet rascals, migrants crammed in toolboxes, and a sleepy-shirted Iranian drug offender—this week’s border busts show there’s no hiding from Texas law enforcement.


1. Not So Fast in Eagle Pass

U.S. Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass North nabbed a Mexican national with a long rap sheet after he allegedly attempted to evade capture during an illegal border crossing, officials announced June 19.

A social media post showed the suspect’s face blurred alongside a list of prior convictions that included:

  • Criminal mischief

  • Deadly conduct

  • Driving while intoxicated

  • Evading arrest/detention

  • Assault causing bodily harm/injury to a family member

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All five offenses are crimes under Texas law, with “deadly conduct” and assault on a family member carrying potential felony penalties.


2. Toolbox Terror in Carrizo Springs

In a grim reminder of the risks facing migrants, USBP Del Rio Sector posted June 20 about a case where an illegal alien was reportedly trapped inside a metal toolbox for two days.

Details about the condition of the migrant have not been released, but the practice of locking individuals inside vehicle compartments is not unheard of from smugglers crossing the southern border. On occasion, these events can be deadly, the Texas Tribune reported.


3. “Nap Time” Is Over for Convicted Iranian Drug Offender

On June 25, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston announced the arrest of a previously convicted drug offender in Harris County.

Iran treats drug trafficking with far more severity than the U.S., including capital punishment for major offenses. According to Amnesty International, Iran can execute hundreds annually for drug-related crimes. The organization’s website says that 173 drug offenders were executed in 2023.


Texas Takedown Weekly is a recurring series from The Dallas Express chronicling the most significant immigration-related arrests and interdictions across the state. You can read last week’s edition here: Texas Takedown Weekly: Border’s Biggest Busts (June 20)