EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two Mexican nationals are facing felony charges for allegedly trying to smuggle 10 migrants to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mario Burciaga Flores and Jose Perez Hernandez were arrested last week by members of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Anti-Smuggling Unit who were tracking a four-vehicle caravan allegedly trying to circumvent a highway checkpoint on Interstate 25.
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The agents witnessed four vehicles “loaded with passengers” exit I-25 north of Las Cruces on Oct. 29; they followed them to State Road 187 where two vehicles stopped at a convenience store. The agents approached the drivers of a red Jeep Grand Cherokee and a red Ford Focus.
Court records show Burciaga was driving the Focus and allegedly admitted to agents that neither he nor his four passengers were authorized to be in the United States. Perez allegedly stated likewise for himself and six passengers in the Jeep.
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