Border Patrol agents in separate incidents over the weekend apprehended 494 people who were illegally in the U.S., some of whom hail from multiple Central American countries in three large groups in Hidalgo and Starr counties, according to a news release.
It was not clear in the release the days each incident occurred.
In Starr County, agents encountered two large groups totaling 373 people which consisted of 101 family members, 142 single adults and 130 unaccompanied children, the release said.
According to the document, the people apprehended came from Cuba and “various Central and South American countries.”
In Hidalgo County, McAllen agents encountered a large group of 121 people unauthorized to be in the country and who consisted of 30 family members, 21 single adults and 70 unaccompanied children hailing from Georgia, Ecuador and Central American countries, the release said.
According to the release, agents in the Rio Grande Valley encountered more than 130 large groups of people illegally entering the U.S. since October 2021 and have resulted in more than 21,000 apprehensions.
Border Patrol says the logistics required to transport and process groups of this size take a toll on manpower and resources as the groups are often encountered in desolate areas inaccessible to large transport vehicles.
According to Border Patrol, a group consisting of more than 100 people is considered a “large group.”
All subjects apprehended were processed accordingly.
