Mexican Teen Arrested for Human Smuggling After El Paso Chase Ends in Crash

Human Smuggling

Mexican Teen Arrested for Human Smuggling After El Paso Chase Ends in Crash

El Paso, TX – A 19-year-old from Ciudad Juarez has been charged with human smuggling and evading arrest after leading Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers on a high-speed chase through El Paso. The chase, which occurred Monday morning, ended in a crash, resulting in the discovery of six undocumented migrants inside the teen’s vehicle.

The Incident

DPS troopers attempted to pull over a blue Lincoln Navigator for a traffic violation, but the driver, later identified as Ruben Palma, refused to stop. Instead, Palma led authorities on a chase that ended when he crashed into a black Ford F-150. Fortunately, the driver of the truck was unharmed.

Discovery of Migrants

After the crash, troopers found six undocumented immigrants inside the SUV. One of the individuals sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The other migrants were unharmed and have been taken into custody.

Charges and Investigation

Palma, now facing charges of human smuggling and evading arrest, remains in custody. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and any possible connections Palma may have had with human smuggling operations across the U.S.-Mexico border.