TUCSON — An unidentified Phoenix couple was arrested on Saturday morning after a Border Patrol agent discovered four illegal aliens in their vehicle during an immigration stop along Interstate 10 in Cochise County.
Two of the illegal aliens had been previously removed from the United States,
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a Willcox Border Patrol agent was patrolling the rural roads near Benson that are historically used by human smugglers in eastern Arizona, when he conducted an immigration inspection on the occupants of a Lexus sedan. “After questioning the three visible occupants of the vehicle, the agent determined the rear seat passenger, a Mexican National man (51), was in the United States illegally, and subsequently arrested,” advised CBP in a press release.
The couple, both 27-year-old United States citizens, were arrested under human smuggling charges, due to the presence of the illegal alien in the back seat.
It was during a search of the vehicle, that agents also discovered and arrested three additional illegal aliens concealed in the trunk, including a 31 year-old Mexican male, a 43 year-old Guatemalan male, and an unaccompanied Mexican juvenile.
According to CBP, both United States citizens are facing federal smuggling charges and will remain in custody pending a disposition in their case. The four illegal aliens will be processed for immigration violations.