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Border Patrol agents arrested a man last week after foiling an attempt to smuggle nearly 30 people into the country illegally.
The incident happened in Starr County near Escobares and the suspect is Leonel Dominguez, a United States citizen born in 1985.
A criminal complaint said the event unfolded at 11 p.m. on May 26 after a Border Patrol agent saw people board five rafts in Mexico and cross into the United States.
“Shortly after, ground sensors in the area began to activate, indicating the direction the people were traveling,” the complaint said. “The agent then positioned himself near the known pickup location and subsequently observed a red Dodge Ram park in front of a small apartment building.”
The agent watched as the driver, who was later identified as Dominguez, exited the Ram and walked around the apartments to an unfinished house.
“Minutes later, the agent observed several people exit the unfinished residence and run to the front of the small apartments,” the complaint said. “The agent subsequently heard doors opening and closing before observing the Ram depart at a high rate of speed.”
Nearby agents and Starr County Sheriff’s deputies responded and found the vehicle parked in the driveway of a nearby residence.
“As agents approached the residence, a female exited the residence and spoke to the agents,” the complaint said. “Agents also noticed Dominguez, whose clothing matched the description provided by the initial agent, was outside the residence.”
The woman gave agents and deputies consent to search her property.
“As agents approached the rear of the property, several people were observed attempting to abscond,” the complaint stated.
Border Patrol agents found three people who they determined to be illegally present in the United States.
“Simultaneously, agents responded to the unfinished house and located a total of twenty-six people, who were determined to be illegally present in the United States, and placed under arrest,” the complaint said.
Dominguez was scheduled to make a first appearance Tuesday morning in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis.
