According to the El Paso Sector Border Patrol, agents raided more than 280 human smuggling stash houses during Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.
Following the raids on the stash house operations in far West Texas and southern New Mexico, more than 3,600 migrants were apprehended. The migrants were in the process of being smuggled into the U.S. interior.
El Paso Sector Border Patrol officials reported that agents disrupted the operation of at least 281 human smuggling stash house operations during FY 2023, which ended on Sept. 30.
This is up from approximately 240 the previous year, indicating an increase of more than 17 percent. The El Paso Sector area of responsibility encompasses the far western portion of Texas and the New Mexico border with Mexico.
At least 3,665 smuggled migrants apprehended
During the stash house raids, agents reported that they apprehended 3,665 smuggled migrants. Officials also said that the migrants are usually sent to overcrowded houses and subjected to other inhumane conditions.
Border Patrol agents frequently collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in prosecuting the raids.
Francisco Burrola, the HSI special agent in charge, explained that the HSI is "tasked with identifying, disrupting, and dismantling terrorist and transnational criminal organizations that seek to exploit" America's trade, travel, financial and immigration system.
Earlier in October, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the State Legislature into a special session to address this issue, among other border security issues.
The Texas Senate Committee on Border Security moved to unanimously approve Senate Bill 4 to the Senate floor for a vote.
The bill, which is sponsored by State Senators Pete Flores, Bob Hall and Phil King, would subject the operators of a human smuggling stash house to a third-degree felony with a minimum sentence of 10 years in state prison.
Flores said the current penalties are not providing a "sufficient deterrent." He explained that operating a stash house will carry a five-year minimum term if used for smuggling trafficking or prostitution.
And if the stash house is operated in a disaster area, it escalates to a third-degree or second-degree felony and the minimum sentence would increase to 10 years.
Additionally, Flores said that if the bail escalates other offenses committed while smuggling such as assault or burglary, evading arrest to a third-degree felony and "provides consecutive stackable sentencing."
These penalties can be reduced by five years if perpetrators cooperate with human smuggling investigations. Additionally, family members who are caught smuggling their relatives can get a reduced sentence if they prove the familial relationship.
During Fiscal Year 2023, the El Paso Sector led the U.S. in the apprehension of migrants crossing the border from Mexico. El Paso Sector agents caught more than 426,000 migrants, which is more than 20 percent of all migrants arrested along the southwest border with Mexico, according to unofficial Border Patrol reports.
The Del Rio Sector finished FY 2023 in second place with the arrest of nearly 400,000 migrants. The Tucson, Rio Grande Valley and San Diego Sectors rounded out the top five with 374,000, 338,000 and 230,000, respectively.
Watch the video below to find out how a migrant surge halted cargo processing at El Paso Bridge.
(Article by Zoey Sky republished from NaturalNews.com )
