EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Ten migrants who were crammed into a sports utility vehicle were apprehended and one person is facing smuggling charges after an incident earlier this week that began in Sunland Park and ended in West El Paso, Border Patrol said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Santa Teresa Station, along with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, disrupted what is being called a smuggling scheme.
Agents were conducting surveillance near Mount Cristo Rey when they saw several migrants “run down the mountain” and get into an SUV, which then drove away, Border Patrol said.
DPS troopers performed a traffic stop near Interstate 10 West and Thorn. DPS troopers and Border Patrol agents apprehended 10 migrants from Mexico and Venezuela, Border Patrol said.
The migrants are being processed under Title 8 and one U.S. citizen was apprehended for alleged smuggling, Border Patrol said.
El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Anthony “Scott” Good posted about the incident on social media, saying the migrants were “crammed inside this vehicle, as the smuggler disregarded their safety and well-being.”
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