HSI El Paso discovers 29 noncitizens in stash house in dire conditions
EL PASO, Texas – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents discovered 29 undocumented noncitizens in a Central El Paso stash house in dire conditions, Aug. 22.
The noncitizens consisted of 12 citizens from Mexico, eight from Ecuador, seven from Guatemala, and one each from Honduras and El Salvador. Among the 29, there were 24 men and five women, ranging in age from 18 to 42. All were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol for processing.
“Human smugglers see people as merchandise and victimize them for profit,” said Francisco Burrola, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI will continue to target transnational criminal organizations engaged in this crime.”
The federal criminal investigation is ongoing. This case is being conducted with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol.
The noncitizens are believed to have been in a house in the 3700 block of Nashville Avenue between one and four days. The house did not have a working stove, refrigerator, air conditioning or a bathroom.
Members of the public who have information about smuggling activity, are urged to call 1-866-347-2423 toll-free, internationally at 001-1802-872-6199, or complete the online tip form.
For additional information about HSI’s investigative efforts, follow @HSIElPaso.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 86 overseas locations in 55 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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