TX. Man charged with running immigrant stash house

Man charged with running immigrant stash house

June 08, 2012 2:25 PM
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By MADELINE BUCKLEY/The Brownsville Herald

Border Patrol agents have arrested a man suspected of running a stash house after agents on Wednesday raided the residence and found nearly 50 alleged undocumented immigrants.

Ruben Guadalupe Villafranca is facing federal human smuggling charges.

Homeland Security Investigations agents began conducting surveillance on the Brownsville home last month, and observed Villafranca come and go with groceries, according to a criminal complaint filed today. The address is blacked out in the document.

Border Patrol agents raided the home Wednesday and saw about 20 undocumented immigrants fleeing into a wooded area. The complaint says they also saw a group of people in the home and on the porch.

In total, the agents detained 47 suspected undocumented immigrants who they believe had been living at the stash house.

Two of the immigrants told investigators Villafranca ran the house and brought food and water for the people living there.

For more on this story read Saturday's Brownsville Herald.

Man charged with running immigrant stash house | agents, undocumented, immigrants - Brownsville Herald