Thread: TX: High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Bailout of 19 Illegal Immigra

High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Bailout of 19 Illegal Immigrants


March 16, 2010

CORPUS CHRISTI - -

A high-speed highway pursuit ends with 19 illegal immigrants bailing out of one SUV. It all started on Highway 77 near Driscoll when constables tried to pull over a white suburban. Authorities tried to pull over the SUV because they couldn't see the license plate clearly. But the 17-year-old driver wouldn't stop. Speeds topped 80 miles per hour on the highway and more than 60 miles per hour when it spilled over to city roads in Robstown. The SUV raced through an HEB parking lot and even rammed a police cruiser. After 20 minutes and 15 miles authorities say the driver, identified as Saul Rodrigues, drove down a dead end street. When the SUV crashed at the end of Picker Lane. Nineteen illegal immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico bailed out. With in minutes, all but two were chased down. The other men were found wandering the town and taken into custody a few hours later. Jimmy Rivera, Constable of Precinct 3 said, "Basically the going rate is $1,000 a person. They'll pay $1,000 to the coyote. You're looking at $18,000 if they can get through. Whether or not they make it is irrelevant they've already been paid." The SUV crashed right outside the gates of Robstown High School. As the pursuit raced toward the school, it was placed on lock down. All 850 students were locked inside their classrooms for about half an hour. Sophomore Briana Ramirez said, "The announcements came on saying keep all students in class because we are putting you on lock down or something and everybody was going around like oh my god, was there a shooting? Like just freaking out." The 17-year-old suspected coyote is currently being interviewed by ice agents. He is expected to be booked into the Nueces County Jail later this evening. As for all of the immigrants, they were handed over to Border Patrol and face deportation.

http://oneoldvet.com/

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/87891712.html

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