Two Americans arrested after border patrol finds unconscious migrant in truck

US News

From Ronny Reyes

Two U.S. citizens were arrested after border patrol agents found an unconscious migrant in the back seat of their pickup truck. One of the suspects said they were forced to smuggle him by armed men.

Jaime Antonio Luna and Eduardo Jesus Luna face felony charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents discovered Mexican citizen Ivan Montes Velasquez unconscious in their vehicle at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego last week, Border Report reports.

The two men were reportedly on their way to Tijuana after shopping for groceries and decided to continue on to the United States with the migrant in tow.

Eduardo claimed that the two were approached by a group of armed men at a Walmart in Tijuana and forced to try to smuggle Velasquez into the United States, allegedly warning the men that they would be followed to ensure they complied.

Jaime could not confirm that story, officials said. The man claimed they simply decided to drive to the United States that day, but did not mention how Velasquez got into their car.

Officials said Jamie, who was driving the car last Tuesday, avoided eye contact with police and gripped the steering wheel tightly, arousing their suspicions.

An investigation of the vehicle revealed that Velasquez was crushed into the bed of the Ford F-150 pickup truck and the migrant was taken to a local hospital.

Velasquez, who is in CBP custody, said he agreed to pay the two Americans $1,000 if they could smuggle him across the border.

According to an affidavit in the criminal complaint, he claimed he was looking for a way to come to Seattle to live with family members and find work.

Both Americans were arrested and charged with bringing an undocumented migrant into the country for financial reasons and aiding and abetting the commission of a crime.

Both men are due back in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on June 27 for arraignment.