TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents near Whetstone and Why arrested three U.S. citizens for smuggling five illegal aliens in separate incidents Sunday night.
The first incident occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sunday when a Tucson Sector Border Patrol agent inspected a Volkswagen SUV at the immigration checkpoint on state Route 90 near Whetstone. After questioning, the agent determined two of the three passengers were Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States.
At approximately the same time, an agent was conducting a secondary inspection of a Nissan sedan at the immigration checkpoint on state Route 85 south of Why. After questioning, the agent discovered the vehicle’s three passengers were Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States.
The five Mexican nationals will be processed for immigration violations, while the three U.S. citizens involved will face prosecution for human smuggling violations.