Smuggler says he’s brought migrants over border wall 20 times

Alleged ‘foot guides’ among group of 7 apprehended east of Ysleta port of entry in El Paso

Updated: Jan 25, 2024 / 08:46 AM CST

U.S. Border Patrol agents illustrate how migrants can get hurt falling from the border wall east of the Ysleta Port of entry.

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two confessed “foot guides” were among a group of seven individuals apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol as they scaled the border wall just east of the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso last week.

The men identified as Alexis Maldonado Munoz and Irving Arellano Torres were observed by Border Patrol agents scaling the steel bollards barrier along with five others on Jan. 17. The group came down and rushed to hide under a nearby overpass. Court records show border agents moved in on the group, detained the individuals and transported them to the Ysleta Border Patrol Station, where agents discovered they had caught two alleged smugglers in the act.

In a lengthy interview with federal investigators, Maldonado allegedly admitted to conspiring to bring unauthorized non-citizens across the border wall for money. Court records show he told agents a smuggling organization pays him 4,000 Mexican pesos ($232) for each individual he brings across and that he was leading five migrants to a waiting driver when the Border Patrol apprehended the group last Wednesday.

Maldonado allegedly told investigators he has smuggled unauthorized migrants at least 20 times, with each group consisting of five to six individuals. According to a criminal complaint filed on Jan. 19 in U.S. Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas, he told agents he knows what he does is illegal.

In a separate interview, defendant Arellano allegedly admitted to being a “guide” – a euphemism for smuggler or “coyote” – and that Maldonado would split with him some of the smuggling fees. Arellano estimated his take at about 5,000 Mexican pesos, or just under $300, court records show.

Maldonado and Arellano face federal charges of transportation of illegal aliens. Investigators were able to determine their alleged role even though an initial records check revealed no prior criminal record and no prior illegal entries into the U.S.

Both were ordered held without bond and waived a detention hearing that had been scheduled for them on Monday in U.S. Magistrate Judge Leon Schydlower’s courtroom in El Paso.