SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Highway 86 Checkpoint arrested 10 illegal aliens fraudulently using social security numbers.
The incident occurred on Aug. 12, at approximately 7:40 p.m., when a group of vehicles caravanning together approached the checkpoint. During an immigration interview, it was determined that one of the drivers and several occupants in two different vehicles were illegally present in the United States.
In total, 10 Mexican nationals, nine men and one woman, were placed under arrest and transported to the Central Processing Center for further processing.
During processing, agents determined that nine of the 10 individuals were fraudulently using legitimate Social Security numbers belonging to U.S. citizens or of deceased U.S. citizens. A search of the their possessions also revealed three fraudulent lawful permanent resident cards for three of the illegal aliens.
The group was part of a privately contracted fire crew from Oregon traveling north from Calexico after briefly working in the area before their encounter with Border Patrol. They were presented for prosecution under identity theft charges. The case is still under investigation.
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