One of two smugglers had outstanding warrant
DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Brackettville Station arrested six illegal aliens and two smugglers, one of which had an outstanding warrant for parole violation, Nov. 11.
“Del Rio Sector has encountered a marked increase in the number of smuggling cases at and around our checkpoints,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz. “Our checkpoints are an integral part of our tiered enforcement strategy and are absolutely essential to our national security mission.”
Agents performed a vehicle stop on a 2013 Lincoln MKZ on Ranch Road 334, attempting to circumvent a Border Patrol checkpoint. Two U.S. Citizens, a 65-year-old female driver from Laguna Vista and 27-year-old male passenger from Dilley were arrested attempting to smuggle six illegal aliens. The aliens included four adults from Guatemala, one adult from El Salvador, and one unaccompanied juvenile from El Salvador.
At the station, it was discovered that the suspected male smuggler had extensive criminal history, along with an active warrant for parole violation out of Austin and was turned over to Kinney County Sheriff’s Office.
All illegal aliens were processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines.
The suspected female smuggler will face a felony charge of 8 USC § 1324 – Alien Smuggling, and if convicted could receive up to 10 years in prison.