Thread: Border Patrol agents arrest 86 illegal aliens in vans, house

Border Patrol agents arrest 86 illegal aliens in vans, house in Yuma


May 18, 2005


A call from a concerned citizen led U.S. Border Patrol agents to a drop house in Yuma and the apprehension of more than 85 illegal aliens Tuesday.

Yuma sector Border Patrol spokesman Joe Brigman said at 11:30 a.m. the Border Patrol received a call about a suspicious home in an alley off of 22nd Street, just west of Arizona Avenue.

Agents observed two 1994 Chevrolet passenger vans leaving the residence. The vehicles were stopped at 16th Street and 4th Avenue and a total of 15 illegal aliens were found inside, Brigman said.

Following the stop, agents returned to the residence and found an additional 71 illegal aliens inside. "They were interviewed, and the majority are Mexican nationals," Brigman said.

Initially, agents found five children, between the ages of less than a year old and 7, who appeared to be unaccompanied.

"No one knew the parents," Brigman said.

Later, parents of two of the children were found among the group in the drop house, but the parents of the other three had not been found.

The Mexican Consulate has been notified in an attempt to locate the parents of the children.

Brigman said the vans were seized and that Border Patrol is conducting an investigation to find the owner of the property and determine any role he or she might have played in harboring illegal aliens.

All of those apprehended were transported to the Border Patrol's Yuma station for processing. If they are found to be clear of any warrants or prior immigration violations, they will receive a voluntary return to Mexico.

Citizens who would like to report information to the Border Patrol can call 1-866-999-USBP.

This is good news, but I wonder if the BP would be so active without the existence of the MMP