Border Patrol arrests two people suspected of smuggling undocumented immigrants

SALTON CITY, Calif. - El Centro Customs and Border Patrol Agents arrested two people accused of smuggling 24 undocumented immigrants into the country.

Human smugglers put those they smuggle in dangerous conditions. #CBPElCentro agents arrested a man & woman smuggling 24 illegal aliens in a van. That’s twice the number of occupants that can safely fit in a van. That endangers the smuggled & other motorists on the road. #IDO pic.twitter.com/QmVkpNVK8S

— CBP El Centro (@CBPElCentro) September 27, 2018

According to El Centro CBP, on September 25 around 3:20 p.m., a 29-year-old woman approached the El Centro immigration checkpoint in a 2005 Chevrolet Van. An agent questioned her and the 29-year-old male passenger about their citizenship status. The van was then sent to a second location at the checkpoint for further investigation. At that point, according to El Centro CBP, the van was opened and 24 people were found inside. According to El Centro CBP, the 24 people were interviewed and determined to be "illegally present" in the United States. 

The female driver and male passenger were arrested for smuggling of undocumented immigrants. According to El Centro CBP, the 24 people will be held as material witnesses. The group included 20 Mexican males, two Mexican females, one Mexican juvenile, and one Guatemalan male.