Border Patrol says a suspected migrant smuggler reached speeds of 100 mph on Monday before crashing his vehicle after a pursuit from San Manuel to Edinburg.
Esteban Ramirez, born in 2001, made his first appearance in federal court on Thursday on a charge of transporting undocumented immigrants.
On Jan. 25, a Border Patrol agent working highway interdiction on U.S. 281 saw a gray Dodge Avenger slow its speed as it drove by the agent’s stationary position.
The agent noticed the vehicle was occupied by several people and followed it to investigate.
Once the agent caught up with the Avenger, it decreased its speed and began to swerve in and out of its lane of travel, according to the complaint.
“The agent also noticed that the Avenger had an abnormal bounce, as if the Avenger was being weighed down,” the complaint states.
After a traffic stop, agents approached the vehicle and saw one person laying on top of three people in the backseat, according to Border Patrol.
The agent asked Ramirez, the driver, to turn off the vehicle and hand over the keys.
Instead, Border Patrol says he drove away.
Agents pursued Ramirez, but after several miles they terminated the pursuit, according to the complaint.
“Shortly after, agents witnessed the Avenger collide with another vehicle at a nearby location,” the complaint states.
Several people, including Ramirez, attempted to run but were apprehended, Border Patrol says.
After being transported to the hospital and medically cleared, agents interviewed Ramirez, who said he was being paid $150 per person he transported, according to the complaint.
According to authorities, Ramirez said he arrived at a pickup location, honked his horn, and five people ran from the brush and got into his vehicle.
Ramirez told agents he was instructed to drive north and drop the people off before reaching the checkpoint, according to the complaint.
According to Border Patrol, Ramirez said he ran because the vehicle did not belong to him and said one of the people in the vehicle told him to stop and unlock the vehicle so they could get out.
“Ramirez stated that he did not unlock the door because he did not want anyone to exit the vehicle while he was traveling ‘100 miles per hour,'” the complaint states.
He is being temporarily held without bond pending detention and probable cause hearings scheduled for next week, records show.
