Border Patrol: Unsuspecting truck drivers finding immigrants on board

Discussion in 'Truckers News' started by Rockin&Rollin, Apr 6, 2015.

  1. Rockin&Rollin

    Rockin&Rollin Heavy Load Member

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    Do you really know what's in your truck/trailer? :biggrin_2556:



    Border Patrol: Unsuspecting truck drivers finding immigrants on board


    U.S. Border Patrol is asking for the public's help to combat a new and dangerous method immigrants are using to get past checkpoints undetected.

    “Falfurrias checkpoint is one of the busiest checkpoints in the country with regard to seizures and apprehensions,” said Omar Zamora, the spokesperson for Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley sector. “In addition to that we also inspect more than 8,000 vehicles per day

    So far this year, the Border Patrol apprehended more than 7,000 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally at the Falfurrias checkpoint.

    Agents are seeing more immigrants take bold and dangerous measures to travel undetected through checkpoints.

    "We don’t want anybody to die or get hurt or seriously injured," Zamora said.

    Over the last couple days, there were five incidents where agents found people stashed away in the small upper air flow compartment of big rig trucks.

    "I believe Tuesday (March) 31st, we had a group of seven immigrants which is quite a few illegal immigrants to be hiding in the back of some of these air dams. We've seen another four cases since then here at this checkpoint," said Zamora.

    Zamora explained they're starting to average two to three of the cases every day.

    The agency has cameras placed several feet off the ground to help detect any illegal activity in an effort to combat the problem. Zamora believes the majority of immigrants are camped out at local area trucks stops waiting for an unsuspecting truck driver.

    "In many cases (truck drivers) may not know anything about it, but what they can do and what we’re asking them to do is check. It will only take a couple minutes," Zamora said.

    Border Patrol and the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office are requesting truck drivers check the air flow vents for people hiding inside. Whether or not the driver is aware of immigrants hiding out, the driver will get cited.

    "When I got to the checkpoint, they told me I had two people up there, and I didn’t know about it. I was so shocked. I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know anything about it."

    Action 4 News spoke with a local truck driver, who we call “Sam” due to the driver wanting his identify concealed.

    Sam did not want to be identified because he now has a smear on his record.

    "Now, when I go to Mexico with my passport, they check me. They put me there like I'm a criminal or something. They check my record and stuff," Sam said.

    It’s why Sam now always locks up and checks to ensure he has no surprise passengers onboard.

    "If the driver is in on it (then) yes, lock him up and do what you got to do, but if he has no intention of doing anything like that I can’t see you citing him for it," said truck driver Walter Patrick.

    Anyone can report any suspicious activity they may see to 1-800-BE ALERT.
     
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  3. stevep1977

    stevep1977 Road Train Member

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    These illegals must have watched the movie Breakdown when Kurt Russell hides up in the air dam
     
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  4. Frghter Century 12.7 Detr

    Frghter Century 12.7 Detr Light Load Member

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    Last year in Port of Palm Beach, there was a Container that came from the Dominican Republic with a load of levi strauss jeans and when the crane brought down the container, the operator notice holes on the side and something moving, the crane operator called customs and when they open it, there were three dead bodies, human waste and three people actually breathing through the holes on the container. They had to call hazmat team.
     
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  5. AfterShock

    AfterShock Road Train Member

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    Did the Border Patrol cite Levi Strauss
    (even though they were unaware)?
     
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  6. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

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    I recall back in the 70's when one truck drove off from a truck stop at El Paso and two illegals were on top of his trailer. I happen to hear it on my CB as I was passing by when another driver was trying to tell the driver what was on top of his trailer. The driver heard him on his CB and pulled over on the entrance ramp, and a policeman was on the opposite side of the interstates service road and saw them laying down on the trailer and about the time the driver pulled over the policeman pulled up. I was going the other way and did not see the outcome of that incident.
     
  7. MrEd

    MrEd Road Train Member

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    It wasn't an illegal immigrant, but I once found a hitch-hiker laying on my trailer under my tarp. As he's got comfy and stretched out under there his foot stuck out. Another driver passing me commented about it on the cb. When I woke him up and he got down, he asked where we were. When I asked why he didn't just ask for a ride because he didn't even know where I was headed he said "I didn't care where you was headed, I'm just traveling dude". So now, I try to tighten my tarps up to make that harder to do.
     
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  8. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

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    Spray some wasp spray up in that area, it'll keep them out.
     
  9. Rockin&Rollin

    Rockin&Rollin Heavy Load Member

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    OK not that was funny! :biggrin_2559:
     
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  10. NavigatorWife

    NavigatorWife Road Train Member

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  11. Stubby T Slapnutt

    Stubby T Slapnutt Light Load Member

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    Down here in Texas we don't call them immigrants...............they are exchange students ! ha
     
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