Authorities in El Paso, Texas, recently uncovered a murder suspect among 77 illegal migrants found in two stash houses. Following a tip-off, U.S. Border Patrol agents raided a property on Overland Avenue, finding 72 migrants living in dire conditions.
The agents, alongside other enforcement units, discovered these individuals crammed into a poorly ventilated storage shed littered with trash. Additionally, a further five migrants were located at another site on Val Verde Street.
Two caretakers of the stash house are facing human smuggling charges. Among the migrants—hailing from Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic—one individual was flagged as a murder suspect in his home country, as confirmed by INTERPOL.
All migrants were processed for removal under Title 8. In the ongoing Fiscal Year 2024, El Paso’s human smuggling teams have already discovered over 270 stash houses and apprehended 2,663 migrants.
A. Scott Good, El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent, emphasized the crucial role of the local community in combating smuggling efforts, urging residents to report any suspicious activities. “A phone call could help our agents disrupt criminal smuggling and possibly save lives,” he noted.
Good also highlighted that smugglers prioritize profit over the safety of migrants. In the political arena, Republicans have criticized Democrats on issues of migrant-related crime as the 2024 election approaches. Claims have made waves, including allegations of migrants committing acts of violence against animals and people.
However, research indicates that immigrants tend to commit crimes at lower rates than U.S. born citizens. A study by Northwestern University spanning 150 years revealed that the incarceration rates of immigrants have never exceeded those of native-born individuals. Furthermore, a CATO Institute analysis in 2019 found that undocumented immigrants were significantly less likely to be convicted of crimes in Texas.