EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Federal agents disrupted a suspected human-smuggling stash house in El Paso in May, arresting 12 people in a multiagency investigation, U.S. Border Patrol said.
U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations agents located the house at about 10:30 a.m. after acting on information from a previous smuggling investigation.
It is unknown where the house was located.
Inside, agents found 11 adults and one unaccompanied child, according to Border Patrol.
Authorities said 10 of those arrested were from Mexico and two were from Guatemala.
All 12 were arrested and taken to the Ysleta Border Patrol Station for further investigation.
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Border Patrol said the 11 adults were processed and charged with violations of Title 8 of the U.S. Code, while the unaccompanied minor was administratively processed. Authorities said all of them were transported to the Processing Transport Detention Unit.
“Our El Paso Sector Border Patrol Human Smuggling Disrupt Units and our Homeland Security Investigations partners are doing great work in dismantling criminal smuggling organizations in our region,” said U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jessie Munoz. “These law enforcement partnerships and operations help make our El Paso area one of the safest communities in the nation.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to protecting our communities by dismantling criminal organizations involved in human smuggling,” said HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Ryan McRae. “This operation, in partnership with U.S. Border Patrol, reflects our mission to safeguard the homeland and uphold the integrity of our immigration system. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of El Paso and beyond.”
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