Border Patrol Arrests Violent Gang Members, IDs Human Trafficking Victims

U.S. Border Patrol agents said Monday that in the past two days, four gang members were arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to the Rio Grande City station, a Honduran national was picked up near Roma, Texas, and records indicated that he is a member of the violent MS-13 street gang. A Salvadoran national was also arrested in the Fort Brown area, and he was identified as an 18th Street gang member. Another 18th Street gang member was arrested in Mission. according to the Border Patrol. Meanwhile, McAllen agents arrested a Salvadoran man who is an MS-13 member.

“All the individuals were referred for prosecution and their prior orders of removal will be reinstated,” said the Border Patrol in a news release.

In another update on Monday, Border Patrol agents in Yuma, Arizona, said officials “identified two unaccompanied alien children believed to be victims of human trafficking.”

“On Sunday at approximately 9:30 a.m., a Yuma Station Border Patrol agent arrested eight subjects who surrendered after they illegally crossed into the U.S. near the San Luis port of entry. All eight were determined to be Guatemalan nationals and were transported to the Yuma Central Processing Center,” the agency said in a statement.

A 16-year-old male said that both of his parents were still in Guatemala, and he gave a phone number for a person who he claimed was a relative living in the United States.

“The agent called the number and spoke to a female who claimed to be the relative. After questioning, the agent was able to establish that the female was not in fact a relative and was impersonating one in hopes of having the juvenile released to her,” the agency added.

The 16-year-old then said that his parents arranged for him to be smuggled from Guatemala to Michigan to perform work for someone. The woman, he added, was not a relative.

A 17-year-old Guatemalan male was also discovered, giving a nearly identical story as the 16-year-old, according to Border Patrol agents.

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