Texas Human Smuggling: SUV Crashes in an El Paso Restaurant; 5 Illegal Migrants Hurt

Five illegal immigrants were injured after the SUV they were riding crashed at a restaurant in El Paso, Texas on Thursday.

According to Border Report, the crash occurred around seven in the morning along North Mesa Street, shortly after authorities started tracking the said vehicle.

KFOX 14 noted that the white SUV, with the migrants inside, crashed into the Italian Como's restaurant near the said street in Waymore Drive.

El Paso Police Spokesman Enrique Carrillo confirmed that the five migrants were brought to the hospital. One of the migrants reportedly sustained serious injury.

The identities, including the nationalities, of the illegal migrants, were not mentioned by the authorities.

Meanwhile, the driver of the white SUV attempted to flee from the officers who responded at the restaurant on foot. However, he was captured by the officers and arrested.

The identity of the driver was not disclosed by the officials. However, reports noted that the driver was a male in his 20s.

The driver of the white SUV that crashed in El Paso, Texas is now facing charges of evading in a motor vehicle, evading on foot, and human smuggling, per Carillo.

Other Migrants Discovered in El Paso, Texas

It was not the first time this week that illegal migrants were discovered by authorities in El Paso, Texas.

On Monday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the discovery of 44 migrants in a human smuggling stash house located in El Paso. Border Patrol agents from the El Paso Station Anti-Smuggling Unit received information about three properties that are possibly used as a stash houses for migrants.

CBP underscored that the first two locations on Alameda Avenue and North Carolina Drive had no migrants. But the third location near Geronimo Drive and Townbridge Drive had housed the 44 migrants.

"U.S. Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector continues to disrupt dangerous human smuggling stash houses located throughout our border community," El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez underscored.

The migrants encountered by the CBP agents were from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Colombia. A 17-year-old unaccompanied migrant was among the migrants discovered.

Those who were amenable to Title 42 were sent back to Mexico while others are transferred to Central Processing Center.

One Mexican was also arrested in connection to the stash house discovery and will face charges under Title 8 USC 1326.

Why Are Migrants Engaging in Human Smuggling?

According to reports, migrants are allowing themselves to be smuggled to the U.S. due to several issues, such as violence, poverty, and even the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human smugglers are also reported to be using riskier methods, such as utilizing 18-wheeler big rigs to bring migrants into the United States.

Data from the United Nations suggest that vehicle transport-related border deaths grew more quickly than any other cause between 2020 and 2021.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Exploring How and Why so Many Migrants Are Crossing the Southern Border - From PBS NewsHour