Immigrant smuggling attempt foiled in Armstrong (KGBT-TX)

Immigrant smuggling attempt foiled in Armstrong
by Sergio Chapa
Posted: 10/26/2010

A Mexican woman is behind bars after Border Patrol agents foiled an immigrant smuggling attempt outside a ranch in Kenedy County.

It happened at a highway turnaround in front of the main gate of the Armstrong Ranch around 5 a.m. Saturday.

Court records released late Monday show that Border Patrol agents spotted a maroon Ford Windstar reversing and trying to avoid detection.

Border Patrol agents reported that 11 people bailed out of the van and into the brush.

The agents arrested driver Josefina Contreras-Tinajero as she allegedly tried to head back south in the van.

Two of the immigrants are being held as witnesses in the case against her. They told investigators they were trying to get around the Sarita checkpoint.

Contreras-Tinajero appeared before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Ronald Morgan in Brownsville on Monday morning.

Court records show that Contreras-Tinajero is an illegal immigrant from Mexico.

Judge Morgan issued a $50,000 cash bond for Contreras-Tinajero. She is expected to appear back in court on Thursday afternoon.