Federal Bureau of Investigation recently rescued 23 undocumented immigrants being held against their will and threatened in a residential area in El Paso, Texas.
Samuel Nuvila Briones, 23, and Salvador Ramirez Montes, 54, were taken into federal custody and processed at the El Paso County Detention facility, according to a July 8 FBI news release. The victims were citizens of Ecuador, the United Mexican States and Guatemala.
"Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of these victims, not their immigration status," Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey said in the release. “These victims endure so many frightening situations along their journey moving up towards the United States, only to find themselves being threatened with violence or become victims of violent acts."
The rescue was performed by the FBI's El Paso Field Office Safe Streets and Violent Crime Task Force, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, El Paso Police Department and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribal Police Department, the release reported.
Downey thanked the Border Patrol, El Paso officers and the Tigua Tribal Police for their help in the investigation, according to the release.
"Cruel transnational criminal organizations keep extorting and holding migrants for ransom in our community," El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez said in the news release. "Our strong alliance of law enforcement and community has played a vital role in disrupting these types of atrocities. No human being should endure or be victim to the vicious actions of human smugglers."
