253 Illegal Aliens Apprehended Within An Hour in the Rio Grande Valley Sector

U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended two large groups of illegal aliens within an hour of each other near Mission, Texas. Agents and local law enforcement also discovered a stash house containing 38 illegal aliens in Roma, Texas. Agents apprehended 18 more illegal aliens in two failed smuggling attempts.

On Wednesday, Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector agents received information of a possible stash house operating in Roma, Texas. Agents contacted the Starr County Sheriff’s Office and requested their assistance in the investigation.  Upon arrival, several subjects were seen exiting the residence through a broken window in an attempt to flee before being taken into custody.  Agents and deputies entered the property and encountered several other subjects.  A total of 38 illegal aliens were apprehended.

Yesterday afternoon, the Roma Police Department attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Malibu after it was observed leaving a suspected illegal alien stash house in Roma, Texas.  The Malibu failed to yield to the police and shortly thereafter, the occupants bailed out.  The subjects and the driver were apprehended.  The subjects indicated that there were more illegal aliens at the residence.  RGV agents and officers returned to the suspected stash house where they apprehended three more subjects.  The eight subjects were taken to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station to be processed.

Earlier this morning, RGV agents attempted to initiate a vehicle stop on a Ford F150 northbound on U.S. Highway 281, near Linn, Texas.  As the agents were relaying the vehicle license plates to dispatch, the suspect vehicle abruptly drove off the highway into a ranch fence.  The driver and all of the subjects bailed out of the vehicle.  Agents conducted a search of the area and apprehended ten subjects who were identified as being illegally present in the United States.  The driver of the vehicle was not located.

Late last night, agents assigned to the McAllen Border Patrol Station apprehended 166 illegal aliens, consisting mainly of family units and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) south of Mission, Texas. While Agents were screening the group of 166 a second group of 87, also comprised of families and UACs, turned themselves in to agents.  The group was transferred to a local Border Patrol station.