Weekly Texas Border Activity: CBP Apprehend 1,027 Illegals, Three Child Sex Offenders And Seize $1.4M In Drugs
Staff Report
NOTE: Corridor News has reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for additional information and were informed that protecting the border and the U.S. Citizens is their first priority. Therefore, we expect what information we receive will be minimal.
Below you will find the latest information available for reported drug smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings that have occurred on the Texas border and ports.
It has been published by many news outlets around the country that the criminal activity on our Texas-Mexico border has been consistently dropping over the last couple of years, and Americans and Texans have been given inconsistent information on what is occurring on our border.
Our U.S. border issues are complex, and they affect all Texans.
This is our home, and to most Texans, the border isn’t a political issue or a tool to use against another political party; this is a safety and security issue for us, our children, families, friends and our local and national law enforcement.
As you read below, we hope the information provided will help all Texans to better understand the problems happening on our southern border and what we need to do to repair our current immigration laws and policies that stem from our lawmakers in D.C.
However, to better understand if these are real problems or just political bloviation concerning our southern border with drug smuggling, human trafficking of children and adults, unaccompanied children and illegal immigrant crossings that include gang members and many from terrorist countries, we need the real numbers, facts and statistics.
Texas isn’t the only state that shares a border with Mexico. Therefore, as you read our weekly report below, remember this information is only what is occurring on the Texas-Mexico border and Texas ports.
This information has been gathered and compiled directly from information given to us by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is under the purview of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
As for the accuracy of the information we are providing to you, we can only decipher the information that is released to us. Therefore, the number of incidents, arrests, types of narcotics, weight or the street value of said narcotics is considered the minimum amount.
We give the totals of illegal crossing arrests, including their nationality, drug seizures including weight and “street value” totals, current charges or convictions of those apprehended and other items to help all of us make educated decisions. Additionally, we include links to our other weekly border stories.
All people apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure their criminal histories are positively identified.
To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, contact their website at http://www.cbp.gov. Or follow them on Twitter at @CBPRGV.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
Read related border coverage:
- Feb 28, 2019: Texas Border: CBP Seize $12M In Drugs, Arrest MS-13 Gang Member, Child Sex Offender & Rescues Woman In Labor
- Feb. 21, 2019: CBP Seize $54.6M In Drugs, 31 Automatic Handguns And Arrest Three Gang Members On The Texas Border
NOTE: The totals below for arrests, apprehensions, seizures, drugs, etc. are ONLY what is reported by Customs & Border Protection to us. There are multiple incidents that happen everyday on all U.S. borders that aren’t reported. Corridor News is not responsible for the information that is NOT reported or incorrectly reported.
• Mar. 7 – 13, 2019 •
Texas Border Reported Arrests/Apprehensions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Reported Arrests/Apprehensions from the following counties;
• El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua and USC (U.S. Citizen)
• Arrests/Apprehensions: 1,027+ (“+”: see note below)
Of those above there were…
• Child Sex Offender: 3
• Seizures
° Passenger Vehicle(s) Seized: 3
• Arrests with Prior Criminal Conviction(s) or Active Criminal Warrant(s)
NOTE: There are multiple incidents involving criminals from Central America, United States and most all other countries that happen daily on all U.S. borders. However, the totals below include ONLY what is has reported by U.S. Customs & Border Protection and ONLY along the Texas border. Corridor News is not responsible for what is NOT reported or incorrectly reported.
• Outstanding Warrant(s): 1
• Prior Criminal Conviction(s): 3
- Active Warrant: Mexican national– Criminal Charges for 2015 and charged with capital murder charges, a first-degree felony.
- Prior Conviction: Guatemalan national- – Arrested on March 22, 2005 in Massachusetts and charged with Rape of Child with Force, a felony and was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
- Prior Conviction: Honduran national- Arrested in Lafayette, Louisiana Police Department and charged him with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
- Prior Conviction: Mexican national- Arrested by Williamson, Texas, County Sheriffs’ Office for indecency with a child and man received a sentence of six years confinement. Additionally, record checks also revealed multiple arrests for driving under the influence and theft.
*Note: “+”; U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not list specific totals and/or countries on some reported incidents.
Texas Border Weekly Narcotic Seizures & Estimated Street Price
*NOTE: The totals below are an estimate of what was reported to us. U.S. dollar and pounds used.
° 1,072 lbs.
° $868,320.
° 67.1 lbs.
° $519,480.
• Total Weight of Narcotics: 1,139(*+) lbs.
• Estimated Street Value of Narcotics: $1,387,800 Million(*+)
Nearly 300 family units and unaccompanied children arrested in a matter of hours in the Rio Grande Valley
GRANJENO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley apprehend the largest group encountered in the area so far this year.
This morning, just after midnight, McAllen agents working near Granjeno, Texas, responded to a report of a large group of suspected illegal aliens walking towards the river levee.
As agents responded, they observed hundreds of people consisting of family units and unaccompanied children cross the river levee. Agents took 289 illegal aliens into custody and transported them to be processed.
In all, Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol arrested over 1,000 illegal aliens within the last 24 hours.
In the month of February, Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector apprehended over 14,000 family units and more than 2,900 unaccompanied children.
Border Patrol is processing the subjects accordingly.
Border Patrol Locates Missing Child In Presidio County
MARFA, Texas – A teenage boy reported missing over the weekend is back with his family following a multi-agency search in a remote section of Presidio County.
On Sunday March 10, the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and CBP Air and Marine Operations located a lost child near the Chinati Hot Springs Resort in southern Presidio County.
The 14-year-old boy, who is autistic, wandered away from the resort around 9 a.m. and was reported missing after family members could not locate the child. The Presidio County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for assistance. The Sheriff’s office reached out to the Marfa Border Patrol Station to help with the search.
An extensive search was conducted with the assistance of a CBP Air and Marine helicopter. At about 1:45 p.m. a Border Patrol agent located the boy more than a mile away from the resort. The boy was in good health and returned to his family by the sheriff’s office.
Big Bend Sector Border Patrol agents patrol 517 miles of the southwest border that extends from Sierra Blanca, Texas to Sanderson, Texas.
Honduran Teen Claims She Was Sexually Assaulted En Route to United States
Eagle Pass, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Eagle Pass Station apprehended a 17-year-old Honduran National who stated she was sexually assaulted on several occasions, in Mexico, before entering the United States.
“Migrants who choose to make the journey to illegally enter the United States place themselves at the mercy of smugglers who have no regard for life or safety,” said Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak. “Unfortunately, this child’s story is not unique.”
On March 8, at approximately 8 p.m., Eagle Pass Station Border Patrol agents arrested a Honduran female, 17.
During initial processing, the unaccompanied child (UAC) stated that during her travels, through Mexico from Honduras, she was sexually assaulted on numerous occasions from January to February.
She will be processed as per CBP Guidelines. The Honduran and Mexican consulates were informed of the sexual assault.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.
CBP Field Operations Arrests Capital Murder Suspect at Hidalgo International Bridge
HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a man from Mission, Texas wanted on capital murder charges from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our ability to inspect and perform database queries on every person seeking entry into the United States has allowed our CBP officers to detect this person who was wanted on homicide charges,” said David Gonzalez., Port Director, Hidalgo /Pharr /Anzalduas Port of Entry. “Having biometric verification tools at our disposal is an asset towards the identification of persons and allows us to assist our law-enforcement partners with the detection of fleeing felons.”
On March 10, CBP officers at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge encountered Javier Rodriguez Mendez, a 29-year-old male Mexican national, lawful permanent resident at the pedestrian walkway returning from Mexico.
Officers escorted Rodriguez into secondary for further inspection after an initial check revealed a possible match to an outstanding arrest warrant.
Biometric verification confirmed the active arrest warrant from 2016 for an incident that occurred in 2015 where Rodriguez was charged with capital murder charges, a first-degree felony.
CBP OFO arrested Rodriguez and subsequently turned him over to the custody of deputies with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Smugglers Tactics Fail to Elude Agents in the Rio Grande Valley
FALFURRIAS, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents work tirelessly to catch group that nearly gets away.
Wednesday evening, Customs and Border Protection assets reported a group of suspected illegal aliens attempting to circumvent the checkpoint through the vast ranch lands of Brooks County.
The following morning, Falfurrias agents assigned to the All-Terrain Vehicle unit responded to the last known location and followed the shoe prints until discovering the group attempting to hide in the brush.
An additional search of the area, led to the discovery of three steel ladders utilized by them in order to avoid detection while traveling through the private ranch.
The group consisted of 17 individuals from the countries of Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador. Border Patrol is processing all cases accordingly.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
CBP Field Operations Seizes $410K in Cocaine at Pharr International Bridge
PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge scored twice this weekend with $410,000 worth of cocaine intercepted in separate, unrelated incidents.
“Our frontline officers detected and intercepted these compact but significant seizures of hard narcotics and stopped them from entering into our communities,” said Port Director David Gonzalez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
“Our officers’ outstanding commitment towards combatting these illicit efforts is demonstrated every time they put on their uniform.”
On March 8, CBP officers working at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge referred
a 25-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a
maroon 2012 Chevy S10 pickup for further inspection.
A secondary inspection resulted in the discovery on nine packages weighing 23.5 pounds (10.66 kg) of alleged cocaine concealed within the pickup. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $181,500.
Two days later at the same border crossing, CBP officers referred a gray 2014 Mercedes A180 driven by a 26-year-old male Mexican citizen for secondary inspection.
Officers conducting the examination discovered 12 packages of alleged cocaine which weighed 29.6 pounds (13.42 kg) hidden within the sedan. The street value on this seizure is $228,500.
CBP officers utilized the assistance of canine teams and non-intrusive imaging technology on both interceptions NII.
CBP OFO arrested both Mexican citizens and then turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents for further investigation.
Border Patrol Continues to Arrest Criminals in the Rio Grande Valley
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley arrested two sex offenders in the last four days.
On Friday, McAllen agents working near Hidalgo, Texas, arrested a Mexican national whose record checks revealed a prior arrest by the Williamson, Texas, County Sheriffs’ Office for indecency with a child.
The man received a sentence of six years confinement. Additionally, record checks also revealed multiple arrests for driving under the influence and theft.
On Sunday, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents working near Falfurrias, Texas, arrested a Honduran national whose record checks revealed an arrest in the state of Louisiana.
The Lafayette Police Department arrested the man and charged him with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
The Border Patrol is processing both subjects accordingly.
Smugglers test lack of infrastructure in the Rio Grande Valley
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents disrupted multiple smuggling attempts that resulted in the seizure of more than 1000 pounds of narcotics.
Saturday, Rio Grande City agents working near La Rosita, Texas, observed several subjects with narcotic bundles cross the Rio Grande.
As agents responded, the smugglers abandoned the bundles and absconded back to Mexico. A search of the area revealed three bundles of marijuana weighing over 173 pounds, worth more than $138K.
This morning, Rio Grande City agents working near La Rosita, Texas, observed a several subjects load bundles of suspected narcotics into a Chevrolet pickup. The vehicle fled the area at a high rate of speed, but turned around upon seeing agents.
The driver and passenger then bailed out and absconded to Mexico along with several other subjects. A search of the vehicle yielded seven bundles of marijuana weighing nearly 460 pounds, worth an estimated $368K.
In addition, since Friday, agents seized more than 439 pounds of marijuana, worth more than $351K in separate incidents.
Convicted Rapist Attempts to Enter United States with 17 Year-Old Daughter
EL PASO, Texas – This past Thursday, U.S. Border Patrol Agents working in downtown El Paso arrested a father and daughter illegally entering the U.S. from Mexico. Record checks later showed that the father was a convicted rapist.
The morning of March 7, Border Patrol Agents working along the border near the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry arrested a man identified as 40-year-old Santos Quinilla-Tum.
He was traveling with his 17-year-old daughter who was also taken into custody. Both are from Guatemala.
Border Patrol Agents queried the subjects with results revealing Quinilla’s prior criminal history and deportation.
Quinilla was arrested on March 22, 2005 in Massachusetts and charged with Rape of Child with Force, a felony. Quinilla was later found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Quinilla was subsequently deported to Guatemala in 2009.
Quinilla will be facing prosecution for the felony of 8 USC 1326, Reentry of Removed Aliens.
Criminal aliens continuously attempt to exploit the loopholes of our immigration system, but thanks to the vigilance of Border Patrol Agents and the tools and systems they employ, their prior crimes in the United States come to light.
Border Patrol agents continue to see large numbers of illegal aliens come into their custody but maintain their vigilance to identify those convicted criminals and set them up for prosecution.
CBP Officers Remain Vigilant and Intercept SENTRI Participants Attempting to Smuggle $109K in Cocaine at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge
LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers continue their strong enforcement posture as they intercept travelers enrolled in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) program attempting to smuggle $109,000 in alleged cocaine.
“CBP has numerous layers of enforcement and our officers will go above and beyond to keep these illicit drugs from entering our country and affecting our community,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “Although SENTRI participants are processed in an expedited manner, they are still subject to inspection as they make entry through our ports of entry.”
The seizure occurred on Tuesday, Mar. 5 at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a Volkswagen Passat driven by a 27-year-old male Mexican citizen who traveled with a 28-year-old Mexican citizen passenger, to secondary for an examination.
An inspection by CBP officers resulted in discovery of a total of five packages containing 14 pounds of cocaine that was hidden on the bodies of the two occupants of the vehicle. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $109,480. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.
Both the driver and passenger were arrested and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation. SENTRI privileges were revoked for both passengers.
The SENTRI program is a trusted traveler program at southern border land-based ports of entry that provides expedited processing and a dedicated lane to passengers that undergo a background check and demonstrate that they are low-risk travelers.
Large Groups of Aliens Encountered in Big Bend Sector
MARFA, Texas – Family unit aliens are crossing the southwest borders in record numbers.
During this fiscal year 2019 through February, the United States Border Patrol (USBP) has apprehended 268,044 individuals, that is a 97% increase as compared to the same timeframe last fiscal year.
Family units and unaccompanied alien children make up 60 percent of all apprehensions along the southwest border and are predominantly from Central America.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seen an increase of more than 300 percent in the number of family units apprehended when compared to last year.
Over the past few weeks, Border Patrol Agents from the Big Bend Sector have encountered an increased number of large groups (i.e., 20 to 50) of illegal aliens in the Big Bend National Park that are predominately family units and unaccompanied alien children from Guatemala.
These individuals are crossing in very remote and potentially dangerous locations, which presents a unique challenge to operations, facilities and humanitarian efforts. “The smuggling organizations are selecting more dangerous and remote locations which challenges and strains our limited resources and places these groups in greater danger. Big Bend Sector agents are well-trained, experienced and compassionate law enforcement professionals.”
“The health, safety and security of these family unit aliens and unaccompanied alien children are a top priority,” said Chief Patrol Agent Henry Rolon. “The USBP works closely with our local hospitals and medical professionals to provide timely medical support and assessments to those in need with an emphasis on treatment for juvenile detainees.”
