Smuggling a Growing Burden for Hidalgo County Constable
Posted: May 30, 2013 7:19 PM
Updated: May 30, 2013 8:21 PM
EDINBURG - Hidalgo County Precinct 4 Constable Eddie Guerra says his department is caught in the middle of a smuggling corridor along Highway 281.
Guerra said his department has seized countless vehicles used in smuggling attempts.
"Ninety percent of them are involved in human smuggling. For our little department, it's quite a bit," he said.
"Most of the highway goes right through my precinct," Guerra said.
He said Highway 281 is one of the main smuggling corridors in South Texas.
"We also get calls from the landowners to help rescue aliens on their properties," Guerra said.
Guerra said landowners have seen an increase in illegal immigration.
"Vehicles go through their fences ... their gates have been rammed," Guerra said.
"This is happening in our own backyard," he said.
Border Patrol officials said residents can help authorities curb illegal immigration.
"We have the ability to see things and we suspect things. So it's really on our citizens here to say enough is enough. This is our neighborhood. The quality of life is important for me and my kids. And we've got to preserve that. And the only way to preserve that is by keeping these criminals out of our communities," Border Patrol Rio Grande Sector Chief Rosendo Hinojosa said.
The vehicles seized by precinct 4 constables are auctioned off. The money goes into the constable's office.
Guerra said his department has seized countless vehicles used in smuggling attempts.
"Ninety percent of them are involved in human smuggling. For our little department, it's quite a bit," he said.
"Most of the highway goes right through my precinct," Guerra said.
He said Highway 281 is one of the main smuggling corridors in South Texas.
"We also get calls from the landowners to help rescue aliens on their properties," Guerra said.
Guerra said landowners have seen an increase in illegal immigration.
"Vehicles go through their fences ... their gates have been rammed," Guerra said.
"This is happening in our own backyard," he said.
Border Patrol officials said residents can help authorities curb illegal immigration.
"We have the ability to see things and we suspect things. So it's really on our citizens here to say enough is enough. This is our neighborhood. The quality of life is important for me and my kids. And we've got to preserve that. And the only way to preserve that is by keeping these criminals out of our communities," Border Patrol Rio Grande Sector Chief Rosendo Hinojosa said.
The vehicles seized by precinct 4 constables are auctioned off. The money goes into the constable's office.
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