Humble Police detain van full of suspected illegal immigrant (The Humble Observer)

Humble Police detain van full of suspected illegal immigrant
Posted: Friday, June 24, 2011 1:07 pm | Updated: 1:41 pm, Fri Jun 24, 2011.
By STEFANIE THOMAS

A traffic stop on the Eastex Freeway in Humble Thursday evening resulted in the discovery of 17 people believed to be illegal immigrants.

According to Humble Police Lt. Jay Wrobliske, an officer pulled the van over for a traffic violation around 7:45 p.m. The investigation was subsequently referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE spokesman Gregory Palmore said Friday that the detainees — residents of El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico — crossed the U.S. border illegally.

“There were 17 individuals total — 15 being smuggled and two drivers,” Palmore said. “They are all in custody. The drivers are being referred for criminal prosecution. Right now all the other individuals are being interviewed and we’ll see where the information leads us.”

The smuggled persons, four of them juveniles, may face deportation upon confirmation of their illegal status in the U.S. None spoke English or were able to show documentation of their legal status.