EDINBURG, Texas –Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents respond to hotel used for human smuggling and discover migrants using a storm drain to illegally enter the country.
On Sept. 17, at approximately 1 p.m., RGV agents received information regarding a hotel in Edinburg, Texas, being used to harbor undocumented migrants. Upon arrival, agents observed two individuals enter the suspect room carrying several jugs of water and groceries. Their ongoing surveillance identified other factors indicating that the room was being used to harbor migrants.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check and immediately noted more than 10 people in the room. Agents identified ten of the subjects as citizens of Honduras, five as citizens of El Salvador, and one from Mexico. The illegally present migrants claimed they had been waiting to be transported further into the U.S. for nearly 30 days.
In the early morning of Sept. 18, McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) agents observed several subjects in the storm drain in Hidalgo, Texas. MCS agents and Hidalgo Police Department officers set up a perimeter and apprehended three subjects that exited the storm drain. Approximately one hour later, three more subjects were apprehended exiting the storm drain, to include one unaccompanied child. The subjects are citizens of Honduras and Mexico.
On Sept. 18, at approximately 9 p.m., several subjects were observed in the same storm drain. MCS agents and Hidalgo police officers responded to the area. Approximately two hours later, four subjects were apprehended as they exited the storm drain. The subjects are citizens of Mexico and Honduras.
All subjects are being processed accordingly.
Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the health and safety of migrants or the citizens of the U.S. they may encounter. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.