Border Patrol Agents Absent from Many Areas
Jul 2, 2013 7\12:25 AM
WESLACO - Border Patrol agents are staying away from some areas in the Rio Grande Valley, agency officials admitted on Tuesday.
Border Patrol officials said they are relying on area residents to alert them about any problems. One of those areas is off Highway 186 in San Manuel.
U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor Henry Mendiola said that area falls under the responsibility of the McAllen station. Agents from that station, though, are busy patrolling the river from Los Ebanos to Pharr, he said.
Mendiola said agents respond to the area only when needed.
"There's nothing that says they can't go from one station's area to another," Mendiola said.
Agents said their absence from certain areas results in more stash houses.
Areas like San Isidro must rely on a single constable to control the flow of illegal immigrants.
"I get woken up at 5 a.m. ... that there are aliens running around in the street," a Starr County constable said. He patrols the San Isidro area.
Mendiola said additional resources are assigned to roving patrols or backup duties.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said his deputies many times are the first to arrive at stash houses.
"This is becoming a problem now. We're snatching up 50, 60 up to 100 a day in stash houses," Trevino said.
Trevino said rounding up illegal immigrants takes his deputies away from their regular duties.
Border Patrols officials said they have a special operations team they use for remote areas. They said those agents are tied up in Brooks County.
U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor Henry Mendiola said that area falls under the responsibility of the McAllen station. Agents from that station, though, are busy patrolling the river from Los Ebanos to Pharr, he said.
Mendiola said agents respond to the area only when needed.
"There's nothing that says they can't go from one station's area to another," Mendiola said.
Agents said their absence from certain areas results in more stash houses.
Areas like San Isidro must rely on a single constable to control the flow of illegal immigrants.
"I get woken up at 5 a.m. ... that there are aliens running around in the street," a Starr County constable said. He patrols the San Isidro area.
Mendiola said additional resources are assigned to roving patrols or backup duties.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said his deputies many times are the first to arrive at stash houses.
"This is becoming a problem now. We're snatching up 50, 60 up to 100 a day in stash houses," Trevino said.
Trevino said rounding up illegal immigrants takes his deputies away from their regular duties.
Border Patrols officials said they have a special operations team they use for remote areas. They said those agents are tied up in Brooks County.
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