According to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB), the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector Border Patrol disrupted four separate unlawful migrant smuggling attempts within three days, one of which involved an alleged smuggler crashing into a school bus. At the conclusion of the events, CPB agents had made seventy-three arrests.
The first attempt occurred on February 7 in Fronton when Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) agents allegedly observed multiple people being loaded into a truck.
Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) attempted to perform a traffic stop to disrupt the apparent smuggling. The CPB release states a vehicle pursuit ensued, leading them to Roma, about 6 miles away, during which the smuggler reportedly collided with a school bus.
No students were on the bus; the bus driver is safe, and no medical attention was needed.
The truck then came to a stop, and its occupants tried to run from the scene. The driver, a United States citizen, and four unlawful migrants were apprehended. The alleged smuggler from the U.S. is in the custody of the DPS and is being charged with the smuggling of people, failure to report an accident, and evading arrest.
Then, on February 8, RGV agents and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies, arrived at an alleged stash house in McAllen, following a tip. Inside the home, they apparently discovered forty-eight unlawful migrants from Central America and Mexico. The caretaker of the home was not located.
On the same day, in Encino, a Chevrolet Traverse was spotted driving through a gate behind a restaurant, according to Valley Central News. RGV agents found the vehicle stopped nearby, where they allegedly observed people emerging from the vehicle and running into the brush.
The Traverse then went up in flames, which agents extinguished and relayed to the fire department. Ten unlawful migrants were apprehended, but the driver of the vehicle was not found.
The following day, February 9, in Linn, a Ford F250 was stopped by RGV agents and four individuals are said to have fled from the truck into the surrounding brush. Ten people were found within the brush and in the truck, including a 16-year-old unaccompanied juvenile. All were unlawful migrants from Guatemala and Mexico. The driver of the Ford was not found.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that all unlawful migrants apprehended are being processed accordingly at Border Patrol facilities.
