A rollover crash during a migrant smuggling attempt led U.S. Border Patrol agents to a suspected stash house in Chaparral, New Mexico, resulting in 35 arrests, Department of Homeland Security officials said.

The El Paso-area case was highlighted on Sunday, Sept. 7, by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“This is law and order in action,” Noem stated on X. “Human smugglers take note: do not attempt these reckless schemes. We will find you, we will prosecute you, and you will face the full weight of justice.”

The driver rolled over a black SUV while attempting to flee border agents who arrested two Mexican citizens on smuggling charges, Noem stated. The location and details of the crash, as well as whether anyone was injured, were not disclosed.

Border Patrol, HSI Raid Stash House in Chaparral

On Thursday, Sept. 4, Border Patrol agents in a follow-up operation arrested a group of 28 undocumented migrants from Mexico and Guatemala after serving a warrant at a home in Chaparral, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in an emailed statement by spokesman Landon Hutchens.

The stash house raid was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol agents with the Smuggling Disruption Unit and the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, known as BORTAC, CBP stated.

Noem stated that 25 detainees remain in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending removal, eight were charged with illegal re-entry and the two suspected smugglers face federal prosecution. Names of the persons arrested were not disclosed.

Noem visited El Paso and southern New Mexico on Aug. 19, where she announced that the border fence would be painted black during a news event in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

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Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Rollover crash leads HSI, Border Patrol to stash house, 35 arrests
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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