US Border Patrol El Paso Sector Cartel Affiliated Apprehension

U.S. Border Patrol Agents in the West Texas and New Mexico region have apprehended more than 12 migrants this week with previous criminal convictions and/or criminal histories, attempting to enter the country illegally through the El Paso Sector area of responsibility.

Migrants with criminal convictions encountered by El Paso Sector agents include aggravated felons such as sex offenders, child predators and drug traffickers. Additional offenses include illegal possession of firearms, assault, domestic violence, and burglary. Some of the migrants encountered have gang or Mexican Drug Cartel affiliations.

Migrants were either identified through criminal records checks or self-admitted to violent cartel and/or gang affiliations. Many are associated to murders, kidnappings and extorsions among other criminal activities from Mexico, Colombia Venezuela and El Salvador. These criminal organizations include La Linea, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Artistas Asesinos, Cartel de Los Soles, and MS-13,

All these offenders are facing criminal prosecution under Title 8 and will be formally removed from the U.S.

“El Paso Sector agents work tirelessly to protect our border communities. Many times, our agents encounter migrants entering illegally into the United States who were previously removed with previous criminal convictions,” said El Paso Sector Border Patrol Anthony Scott Good. “Most of the time these individuals know, if arrested by Border Patrol, they will face incarceration once again. Therefore, they attempt to evade arrest. We continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold these criminals accountable.”

El Paso Sector U.S. Border Patrol agents arrest 69 migrants inside the El Paso public storm drain system Wednesday.

On Jan. 31 at approximately 8:00 p.m., agents assigned to the El Paso Station were notified of a possible illegally entry into the U.S. near an area known as Boone Storm Drain, east of the Bridge of the Americas international port of entry. Agents assigned to the El Paso Station Confined Space Entry Team (CSET) responded and initiated a search. They located an entry through a manhole near Interstate 10. High levels of chlorine were detected at the site.

Agents subsequently intercepted and apprehended a group of 27 migrants. Immediately thereafter, CSET agents responded to the same location for another entry. Agents intercepted and apprehended an additional 43 migrants exploiting the storm drains near Paisano Avenue.

A total of 69 migrants from Guatemala, Mexico, Bolivia, Honduras and El Salvador, including four unaccompanied juveniles from Mexico and Guatemala, were all arrested. All migrants were medically evaluated then processed for removal under Title 8.

“El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents continue to successfully disrupt dangerous human smuggling schemes and the illicit operations of transnational criminal organizations,” said El Paso Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good. “The storm drain system is dangerous and poses serious risks to not only the migrants but to our Border Patrol Agents and law enforcement partners. Due to these risks, the El Paso Sector will deliver serious consequences to individuals that exploit the El Paso Storm drain system."

El Paso Sector is working the U.S. Attorney’s Office to deliver consequences, through criminal prosecution and formal removal, for individuals and smugglers, that exploit the storm drain system and place agents and other law enforcement lives in danger. Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO) operating in the El Paso Sector exploit storm drain manholes within the city of El Paso to smuggle migrants illegally into the U.S. This is a trend employed by the TCO’s for many years. The El Paso storm drain system is large and complex, and migrants often get lost or encounter chemicals, toxic gases, insects, and venomous animals as they attempt to enter United States.

There are numerous risks involved with the cruel smuggling practices that TCOs employ, that can lead to possible injury or even death. The complex drainpipe system that travels from the city of El Paso to the Rio Grande River can transport toxic and hazardous substances that can pose serious health risks. Migrants also face the possibility of drowning or suffocation as some of these storm drains are only a few inches in diameter and pose a threat to migrants as they could become trapped with limited access to air.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.

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