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RGV Agents Disrupt Smuggling Operations

Release Date
Wed, 07/14/2021

EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents arrest 53 migrants in three stash houses, two of the locations were in Starr County, Texas.

Yesterday morning, RGV agents requested assistance from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers and Starr County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies after receiving information of a residence in Garceno, Texas, being used to harbor undocumented non-citizens.  At the residence, they encountered 14 migrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.   All subjects were transported to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station for processing.

Yesterday afternoon, RGV agents received information regarding a Pharr, Texas, residence being used to harbor smuggled migrants.  RGV agents encountered three females at the location who admitted to being illegally present in the United States and were taken into Border Patrol custody. No caretaker was identified.

This morning, a Rio Grande City Border Patrol agent observed several subjects run from the brush into the garage of a residence near Roma, Texas.  Agents, with the assistance of DPS and SCSO, encountered 36 migrants in the garage.  Agents determined the individuals were in the United States unlawfully and transported them to the Rio Grande City Station. 

Border Patrol processed all subjects accordingly.

Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation.  The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection.  Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.

 ~CBP~

Last Modified: Jul 14, 2021