http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/10873907/detail.html

ONLY ON KFOX: New Task Force Busts Four Illegal Immigrant Smuggling Attempts

POSTED: 7:47 pm MST January 29, 2007

-- An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said 15 illegal immigrants were found in total and all of them were found by a newly created task force initiated by the Department of Homeland Security.

We talked to one local business that played a small role in the operation.

The Special Enforcement Task Force included members from the Sheriff's Office, the Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Just moments before this stop, which KFOX first told you about on Saturday, at Gateway East and Giles, employees at Saturn of El Paso said they saw four vehicles pull up with Mexican license plates and go inside their used car building. Fred Betancourt, one of the salesmen, thought they were customers and went inside to find out what was going on.

"They were inside that building taking pictures and video and they show us the badges that they were from ICE," Betancourt said.

That shocked Betancourt, who was then forced to stay in the building with the agents.

"We were like OK, cause they were like flashing with the badge and we were like OK," said Betancourt.

Agents waited for Sheriffs to pull over a semi- truck and soon after is when Betancourt said they invaded the cargo area of the truck.

"We first thought they were getting drugs out, but then we saw they were getting people out of the back of the truck," said Betancourt.

Betancourt said he's never experienced anything like this while working at Saturn and while he didn't mind cooperating with the agents, the investigation ruined business at the dealership that day.

"Saturday is one of our busiest days and they basically blocked our main entrance or driveway and as soon as they started doing everything with the police cars, business was dead," said Betancourt.

ICE said all of the trucks were headed to various locations including Phoenix, L.A. and Chicago.

Ice said three of the busts involved semi trucks and the other involved an SUV. The 15 illegal immigrants had their initial appearance Monday and are now in custody of the U.S. Marshals.

All of the drivers were legal to be in the U.S. and are in federal custody awaiting bond hearings.

No word on what charges the drivers will face.