More than 270 safe houses have been located in the El Paso area, with a total of 2,663 migrants detained during fiscal year 2024 by U.S. human smuggling interdiction teams.
Just last Tuesday, in two separate events, a group of 77 migrants were rescued from safe houses in the El Paso, Texas area, according to Border Patrol (CBP) personnel.
In addition, a man from the Dominican Republic who had an arrest warrant report for allegedly committing a murder was arrested, according to a press release.
The document indicated that an operation was deployed on Tuesday, September 24, involving anti-smuggling units from the El Paso sector of the Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Marshals and elements of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The first raid was conducted at a property located on Overland Avenue, where agents found 72 people crammed into a metal warehouse attached to a home.
Conditions inside were precarious, with poor ventilation, small windows and piles of garbage.
As well as two of the migrants were identified as those responsible for the property and will face charges of human smuggling.
In a second property, located on Val Verde Street, agents located another five migrants, bringing the total number of people found to 77.
The migrants, from Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, were reported to be in good health and will be processed under Title 8 of the Immigration Act for prompt removal.
During the background check at the processing center, agents identified a man of Dominican origin, who was wanted for murder in his home country, according to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) database. His arrest represents a major blow against criminal networks operating along the border.
A. Scott Good, chief patrol agent for the El Paso Sector, noted the importance of collaboration with the community to combat human smuggling and prevent tragedies.
“A phone call can help our agents interrupt dangerous acts of criminal smuggling and possibly save lives,” said Good.
U.S. authorities are urging the public to report suspicious activity anonymously by calling 1-800-635-2509.
