Border Patrol Apprehends Over 670 Illegal Aliens within 24 hours

EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents working in Antelope Wells, and El Paso apprehended two large groups of illegal aliens after midnight on Wednesday. These groups, like many others before, are comprised primarily of Central American families and unaccompanied juveniles.

On May 1 at approximately 1:30 a.m. Border Patrol agents took custody of a large number of illegal aliens at the Camp Bounds Forward Operating Base adjacent to the Antelope Wells port of entry. The majority of individuals from this group are from Central America. The group included family groups with small children as well as unaccompanied juveniles that continue to put their trust and money in smuggling organizations while undertaking the dangerous journey. This particular group had a total of 243 individuals that made the treacherous journey.

About 40 minutes later at 2:10 a.m. U.S. Border Patrol agents in El Paso also encountered a large group of illegal aliens crossing the border and entering the U.S. illegally at the border wall near downtown.  This group was made up of 219 people.

On Thursday morning another large group was apprehended in Antelope Wells with a total of 209 illegal aliens. This bringing the total to three large groups, and over 670 illegal aliens being apprehended by Border Patrol within 24 hours.  This group, like others before, is comprised primarily of Central American families and unaccompanied juveniles.  This is an ongoing situation that Border Patrol Agents face in southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas: hundreds of parents and children are being encountered by agents after having faced a dangerous trek north in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers.

Criminal organizations continue to exploit innocent human lives in order to enhance their illicit activities without due regard to the risks of human life.  In most cases these smugglers never cross the border themselves in order to avoid apprehension.