U.S. Customs and Border Protection Arizona released footage Wednesday showing over a hundred illegal immigrants scaling the southern border wall in the Yuma sector. The illegal actions of the “110+” migrants ended in their arrest Monday. Shortly after posting the surveillance footage, CBP Arizona announced that they had detained two MS-13 gang members a day later.
“Officials with the United States Customs and Border Protection in Arizona released a new video showing Central American migrants scaling a border wall in the Yuma sector,” FOX 10 reports. “According to a tweet made by officials on the verified Twitter account of CBP Arizona, officials say the migrants were arrested on Monday by Border Patrol agents.”
The brief video shows the migrants, aided by what CBP Arizona describes as a “smuggler,” scaling a ladder to get over the wall. “On Monday #CBP #YumaSector Border Patrol agents apprehended a group of 110+ Central Americans who illegally scaled the wall with the assistance of a smuggler with a ladder,” CBP Arizona tweeted.
On Monday #CBP #YumaSector Border Patrol agents apprehended a group of 110+ Central Americans who illegally scaled the wall with the assistance of a smuggler with a ladder #NationalSecurity #SouthwestBorder pic.twitter.com/T19JzI3xeC
— CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) January 23, 2019
The mass crossing comes just a few days after the detainment of the largest known group of migrants to ever cross illegally into the U.S. A total of 376 migrants crossed into the country near San Luis, Arizona last week using smugglers’ tunnels.
CBP Arizona’s next Twitter post contained an official press release announcing the arrest of two MS-13 gang members on Tuesday. “Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrest two MS-13 gang members from Honduras traveling together,” the agency tweeted, along with the full statement.
#YumaSector Border Patrol agents arrest two MS-13 gang members from Honduras travelling together. #NationalSecurity #SouthwestBorder pic.twitter.com/wPRk80TpG1
— CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) January 23, 2019
“Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended two MS-13 gang members from Honduras after they made an illegal entry into the United States together Tuesday evening,” the statement reads. “At approximately 6 p.m., agents patrolling along the Colorado River apprehended a 37-year-old man and 19-year-old man, both from Honduras, after they illegally entered the U.S. near County 9th Street. They were transported to the Yuma Border Patrol Station for processing.”
The older of the two gang members had already been deported before. “During processing, agents identified both men as MS-13 gang members. The 37-year-old man was also discovered to have previous criminal convictions for shoplifting and providing false information in Gwinnett County, Georgia as well as previous deportation.”
The younger gang member had no previous criminal or immigration records, the release notes. “Both subjects are being presented for prosecution and deportation,” the statement asserts.
The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, gang, which has been responsible for a series of brutal crimes since it was first founded in Los Angeles in the 1970s, has become one of the focal points of the Trump administration, which is attempting to crack down on illegal immigration generally and the notorious gang specifically. President Trump’s border wall, the battle over the funding for which has prompted the government shutdown, is a key part of his plan to curb illegal immigration and stop the influx of criminal migrants.
A number of MS-13 gang members have been detained by law enforcement under Trump’s watch. In May 2017, dozens of members of the violent gang were arrested in a series of 50 raids in New York City. “The 50 pre-dawn raids, aimed at catching suspects asleep or off guard, also focused on nabbing members of MS-13’s core leadership, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said,” CNN reported at the time.
Via DailyWire
