EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector rescued three people, arrested two men with criminal histories and apprehended an 18th Street gang member.
The rescue occurred early Tuesday morning when the driver of a tractor-trailer approached the Sarita Checkpoint on U.S. Highway 77 North. During an immigration inspection a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the trailer. Upon further inspection, agents from the Kingsville Station found three undocumented immigrants inside the trailer trapped between pallets, underneath a heavy tarp with no means of escape. The rescued individuals will be processed for removal.
Additionally, agents arrested two men, who are Mexican nationals, with criminal histories on Monday. One of the men was apprehended by agents assigned to the McAllen Station. During processing, agents discovered the man had a prior arrest in Georgia on child molestation charges. The other man was apprehended by Weslaco Station agents and had a prior arrest in Texas on a charge of an attempt to commit sexual assault. Both cases have been referred to the Rio Grande Valley Sector Prosecutions Office.
In a separate incident, agents from the Rio Grande City Station arrested an El Salvadoran national Monday morning. During processing, the man admitted to being a member of the 18th street gang.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector is part of the South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity, call the sector’s toll-free telephone number at 800-863-9382.