In three separate incidents, U.S. Border Patrol agents near Ajo and
Nogales arrested five U.S. citizens for smuggling 11 migrants Wednesday
night, including seven who were locked in a semi-trailer.
semi trailer companies
The
first incident occurred shortly before 10 p.m. on Wednesday when a
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agent inspected a Volkswagen Passat rental
car at the immigration checkpoint on State Route 85. After questioning,
the agent determined the two passengers were Mexican nationals illegally
present in the United States. The migrants and the U.S. citizen driver
were placed under arrest.
Approximately 20 minutes later, another
agent patrolling near Ajo conducted a vehicle stop on a Hyundai Elantra.
The car contained two U.S. citizens and two migrants from Mexico. All
four individuals were arrested, and the vehicle was seized.
A few
hours later at the I-19 immigration checkpoint a Freightliner semi-truck
pulling a refrigerated trailer was sent to a secondary inspection after
a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. Inside the padlocked
trailer agents discovered seven migrants. All of the smuggled subjects
were found in good condition. The driver was arrested, and agents seized
the truck.
The U.S. citizens arrested in these incidents will face
prosecution for human smuggling violations, while the 11 Mexican
nationals will be processed for immigration violations.
Border Patrol
warns that people can die or become seriously injured when placed
inside compartments, such as trailers and trunks, not meant for human
travel. Extreme temperatures, carbon monoxide poisoning, and vehicle
collisions pose serious risks to passengers attempting to avoid
detection.
The Wall