Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 10

ICE ARRESTS TWO SMUGGLERS, 146 ALIENS AT L.A. DROP HOUSES

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Two Guatemalan men are facing federal human smuggling charges following the discovery of two “drop” houses in South Los Angeles May 4 that were being used to hold 146 smuggled migrants from Central and South America.

ICE agents arrived at the scene of the first residence on 80th Street in Los Angeles at around 2 p.m. after receiving a request for assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department. At that location, ICE agents apprehended 60 illegal aliens, including two men suspected of helping orchestrate the smuggling plot. The group of smuggled migrants included 45 Ecuadorians, 10 Salvadorians and three Guatemalans.

Less than five hours later, ICE received a call from the Los Angeles Police Department about a second drop house about 20 blocks from the first location.

When agents arrived at the residence they found 88 smuggled aliens trapped inside the stiflingly hot home. The aliens told agents the smugglers locked them inside and fled after seeing media coverage about the discovery of the first drop house.

Agents say the house was teeming with roaches and rodents and the rooms were littered with dirty clothes, discarded food and human waste. The nationalities of the migrants in the second house were still being determined as Inside ICE went to press, but the majority were believed to be from Central and South America.

“This is another example of the greed and ruthlessness of those involved in the human smuggling trade,” said Loraine Brown, ICE Los Angles Special Agent-in-Charge. “To flee and leave these people essentially imprisoned in this home, it’s fortunate authorities arrived when they did.”

ICE’s initial investigation indicates the two drop houses were likely connected. Agents say the majority of the smuggled migrants reported crossing the border in Arizona and were destined for cities across the United States.

Federal charges are expected to be filed against two Guatemalan nationals taken into custody at the first location. ICE’s investigation is continuing and agents hope to identify higher-level operatives in the smuggling scheme.

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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