U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Arizona’s Yuma Sector Tuesday announced that it apprehended more than 30 illegal aliens who were attempting to be smuggled into the United States in one van.
“U.S. Border Patrol intelligence agents intercepted a smuggling attempt after National Guard members witnessed multiple suspected migrants load into a van Friday morning,” said Chris T. Clem, chief patrol agent at the Yuma Sector. “Agents discovered 33 migrants inside the van. The U.S. driver and Mex[ican] passenger[s] were arrested.”
U.S. Border Patrol intelligence agents intercepted a smuggling attempt after National Guard members witnessed multiple suspected migrants load into a van Friday morning. Agents discovered 33 migrants inside the van. The U.S. driver and Mex passenger were arrested. #YumaSector pic.twitter.com/NuQvdjKZtu
— Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem (@USBPChiefYUM) June 7, 2022
CBP recently launched an anti-smuggling effort at the border, The Arizona Sun Times reported.
“The ads deliver a clear message: smugglers are lying to you, the fact is that entering the United States illegally is a crime,” CBP said in mid-May. “The ads highlight that smugglers, known as ‘coyotes’ … take advantage of and profit from vulnerable migrants.”
“Smugglers use lies to lure the vulnerable into a dangerous journey that often ends in removal or death,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus in a press release. “This digital ad campaign is an important component of U.S. government efforts to prevent tragedies and curtail irregular migration.”
The federal law enforcement agency’s thwarted smuggling attempt is another in a string of high-profile captures at the Yuma Sector over the past week.
“U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Station arrested a convicted murderer who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico,” Clem said on June 1. “Amilcar Jesus Espinoza, a 50-year-old from El Salvador, was convicted in Texas in 2004 for murder.”
U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Station arrested a convicted murderer who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico. Amilcar Jesus Espinoza, a 50-year-old from El Salvador, was convicted in Texas in 2004 for murder. #BorderSecurity is #NationalSecurity pic.twitter.com/WCe6m0zJLg
— Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem (@USBPChiefYUM) June 1, 2022
The day before that, Clem said the federal law enforcement agency had arrested a previously convicted child rapist as he attempted to illegally reenter the United States.
“U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Yuma Station arrested a convicted felon who illegally entered the U.S. Sunday night,” Clem said. “Isaias Pulido Alvarado, a 32-year-old Mexican national, was convicted of sexual assault of a child and delivery of cocaine in 2009 in Wisconsin.”
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Yuma Station arrested a convicted felon who illegally entered the U.S. Sunday night. Isaias Pulido Alvarado, a 32-year-old Mexican national, was convicted of sexual assault of a child and delivery of cocaine in 2009 in Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/1ObDJkFJuD
— Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem (@USBPChiefYUM) May 31, 2022
Despite its recent successes, CBP has faced an uphill battle under the Biden administration.
More illegal aliens crossed into the United States in April than any other month in recorded history, the last month for which such data is available. In total, CBP tallied 234,000 encounters during that month. That figure does not include border crossers who went undetected.
Recently released Department of Justice (DOJ) data shows that 15 percent of all federal arrests in the United States in 2020 were made in Arizona.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Illegal Immigrants” by Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem.
