LAREDO, Texas – Border Patrol agents assigned to the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35, north of Laredo, Texas, rescued 62 illegal aliens from a refrigerated tractor-trailer announced U.S. Customs and Border Protection Thursday.
“These criminal organizations view these individuals as mere commodities without regard for their safety. The blatant disregard for human life will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these organizations and prosecute those responsible,” said Laredo Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jason D. Owens.
On August 29, agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35, north of Laredo, Texas encountered a tractor-trailer at the primary inspection lane reports officials.
Upon further inspection, agents discovered the 62 illegal aliens concealed inside the trailer. The 62 illegal aliens were found in good health and identified as being from the country of Mexico. The female driver, a United States citizen, was arrested and the tractor-trailer was seized by Border Patrol.
Laredo Sector continues to see an increase in human smuggling cases involving refrigerated tractor-trailers reports U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In an additional case, U.S. Border patrol agents rescued a man who rappelled off the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry jumping into the American Canal in downtown El Paso Texas.
Just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, border surveillance cameras spotted a man rappelling off the Paso Del Norte Bridge downtown. The man had walked across the bridge as if to go through inspection before revealing his true motive.
According to officials, the immigration violator grabbed a rope and rappelled off the bridge once he was on the U.S. side of the river. U.S. Border Patrol Agents quickly responded to the illegal entry and witnessed the man jump into the canal once he saw agents arriving.
Agents discovered he was in distress and having trouble keeping his head above water. The agents immediately began using their land-based water rescue techniques to pull the man out of the water by deploying a rescue rope.
According to officials, the subject, a 31-year-old Mexican national, received medical attention at the scene from Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technicians, who took him out of harm’s way. He was then transported to a USBP station and is pending immigration proceedings.
