El Paso Sheriff concerned over potential threat following recent migrant smuggling arrest

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles says a recent smuggling arrest raises law enforcement concern that undocumented immigrants may be released into the community with minimal or no screening.

On Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office says deputies stopped a car for an equipment violation at the 7900 block of Doniphan near Vinton Road around 9:30 pm.

Investigators say after deputies stopped the vehicle, four people ran away. Two people remained in the car, and two others were found in the trunk.

Deputies later found two people who ran away but could not locate the remaining two.

The driver of the car was identified as 27-year-old Lorenzo Rafael Carmona of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

He was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Jail for smuggling.

Officials say deputies tried to refer the five undocumented immigrants to the U.S. Border Patrol at multiple stations but were told they would not be able to respond due to staffing issues.

The deputies ended up taking the five males to the Opportunity Center for the homeless.

"Although the vast majority of undocumented immigrants who come to the United States are decent people, this situation is ripe for terrorists and criminals to simply walk across our border and do harm to our citizens,” said Sheriff Wiles.