The arrival of Cubans at the southern border of the United States does not stop; Several groups of them were intercepted by Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents this weekend.
Cubans were the majority among the 549 arrests by four major groups in Starr County, where the patrol also stopped five cases of migrant smuggling.
A statement from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said agents from the Border Patrol Station (RGC) in the city of Rio Grande found four large groups near The Crane and Rome over the weekend. A total of 244 single adults, 193 dependents and 112 unaccompanied children were found.
“Large groups continue to flood RGV. Agents encountered four large groups totaling over 500 migrants and intercepted five people smuggling incidents, with a total of 33 arrests over the weekend,” Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Chief Officer Brian Hastings said on Twitter.
Large groups continue to flood RGV. The agents encountered four large groups totaling over 500 migrants and interdicted five people smuggling incidents, arresting a total of 33 over the weekend.
Read more: https://t.co/bomc1P8mcy pic.twitter.com/odtA2ACOPt
— Chief Patrol Agent Brian Hastings (@USBPChiefRGV) May 23, 2022
RGC assured that the migrants came mainly from various countries in Central and South America, as well as Cuba.
Arrests per CBP statement:
On May 19, RGV deputies working with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) attempted to stop a Ford F150 near San Manuel. The driver drove through a ranch fence and came to an abrupt stop where about 15 people jumped out. Agents searched the area overnight and arrested nine migrants who were in the US illegally. The driver was not found.
Later that night, agents from the Kingsville Border Patrol Station, working with troops from the Texas Department of Public Safety, detained 11 migrants near Ricardo. The driver of a Chevrolet Suburban would not yield to officers, only accelerating to eventually come to a stop and allow all occupants to escape. The vehicle was reported stolen in Katy, Texas and had fake Maryland cardboard signs. All of the migrants were found to be in the US illegally and the driver was not found.
On May 20, agents working at the Falfurrias border security checkpoint discovered three migrants hiding during an inspection in the luggage storage area of a passenger transport bus.
RGV agents made 10 arrests in two other migrant smuggling incidents.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) has located more than 73 large groups who entered the United States illegally since October 2021, the start of the current fiscal year.
RGV noted that the logistics required to transport and process groups of this size continue to put pressure on this agency’s workforce and resources, as people often find themselves in deserted areas inaccessible to large transport vehicles . Border guards have determined that a group of more than 100 migrants is considered a large group.