EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents discovered four stash houses in El Paso, Texas, leading to the apprehension of 53 migrants on Wednesday.
On April 6, agents assigned to the El Paso Station Anti-Smuggling Unit (ASU) were notified by the Las Cruces ASU of an apartment complex, utilized as a stash house, near Fred Wilson Avenue. Agents arrived and located 15 migrants hiding inside several apartments. The migrants were from Mexico and Honduras.
Information gathered from the Las Cruces ASU led the El Paso Station and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to another apartment complex, utilized as a stash house, near Piedras Street and Texas Avenue. Agents arrived and discovered nine migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
During the same time frame, El Paso Station ASU and HSI encountered 19 migrants inside four rooms in a motel near Paisano Drive. Among those encountered were citizens from Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Last bust of the day occurred on Alameda Avenue after El Paso ASU agents were provided with information that led them to the motel and located ten migrants from Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras.
All subjects were medically screened and evaluated on site. Those subjects amendable to Title 42 were expelled back to Mexico and others transported to the Central Processing Center to be processed accordingly.
“These events highlight the importance of partnerships between agencies within the Department of Homeland Security and exemplifies our commitment to disrupt human smuggling,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “Our Border Patrol Stations work as a team and have seamless partnerships with other agencies in an effort to combat illegal human smuggling activity in our community.”
During the first six months of Fiscal Year 2022, Border Patrol Agents in El Paso Sector have encountered more than 93 stash houses, leading to the rescue of 893 migrants. 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.