Thread: Agents Find 3 Immigrants in Duffel Bags

Sep 21, 10:34 PM EDT


Agents Find 3 Immigrants in Duffel Bags


FALFURRIAS, Texas (AP) -- Agents working an immigration checkpoint found three illegal immigrants hidden in sealed nylon duffel bags, Customs and Border Protection said Thursday.

None of the immigrants found during the two consecutive stops Wednesday was harmed. All declined medical attention, though agents said they were sweating profusely.

In the first stop, agents searched a Dodge Durango with a Border Patrol dog after the driver and passenger appeared nervous. They found five people, including a woman and 5-year-old in a zipped duffel bag.

The driver, a 39-year-old U.S. citizen, and the passenger, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, were arrested and charged with alien smuggling.

Agents then searched the next vehicle after seeing a foot move under the back seat. Agents found four illegal immigrants, one concealed in a duffel bag.

The driver, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with alien smuggling.

The immigrants were returned to Mexico.

Falfurrias is about 75 miles north of the Mexican border.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/ ... SECTION=US

Geez, I guess we need to search each and every vehicle that crosses the border. Didn't the Senate just pass a bill requiring port authorities to search every cargo container that enters a U.S. port? Why can't we search every vehicle that enters the country? I didn't get a warm and fuzzy from the article above. Seems like only a case of weak nerves and a foot were the only thing that stopped 9 illegal immigrants from safely entering the country.