U.S. man arrested in smuggling attempt
Incident occurred in Dome Valley
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents from the Wellton station arrested a U.S. citizen as he attempted to smuggle seven illegal entrants from Mexico through the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint early Wednesday.
At approximately 7:02 a.m., according to information provided by the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, agents conducted an immigration stop on a white 2010 Ford E-350 van as it was travelling through Dome Valley.
“The driver, a 36-yearold male U.S. citizen from San Luis, tried to blend in with local labor traffic, agent Jose J. Garibay III wrote in the news release.
All seven of the passengers in the van were identified as Mexican nationals who were unlawfully present in the United States. Their ages ranged from 14 to 36 years old.
“This interdiction highlights our need to maintain a strong enforcement posture in Dome Valley, which is the main bypass route for the 1155 Immigration Checkpoint,” said Wellton Station’s Patrol Agent in Charge Kevin Villegas. “The adversary routinely attempts to mimic legitimate traffic in this area, but our vigilant agents are trained to perceive indications of illicit behavior.”
The driver was arrested for transporting and harboring illegal aliens. The seven illegal aliens were processed for immigration violations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Individuals can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877872-7435 toll free. Reporting illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.