Man is accused of trying to smuggle 4 Chinese citizens across U.S. border inside car trunk
A 24-year-old man with U.S. citizenship pulled up to a border crossing from Mexico this week, seemingly with an empty Chrysler sedan.
But a U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog indicated there was some illicit cargo.
Inside the trunk they found four Chinese citizens crammed together, none with the proper clearance to legally enter the U.S., according to a statement from Customs and Border Protection.
The alleged smuggling attempt occurred Tuesday just before 6 p.m. at the San Ysidro border crossing. Officials released details of the incident Thursday.
The driver, whose name was not released, was taken into federal custody and is at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego awaiting arraignment.
Officials also placed an immigration hold on the three female and one male Chinese nationals.
The four were expected to be deported after the criminal case against the driver concludes.
“Concealing persons in vehicles is dangerous and could have severe consequences,” Pete Flores, director of field operations for Customs and Border Protection in San Diego, said in a statement.
“San Ysidro CBP officers stopped a violation of our immigration law and were able to resolve the incident safely.”
Twitter: @MattHjourno
ALSO
California to Trump: Keep ICE out of our courthouses
Trump takes aim at ‘sanctuary cities’ with a proposal to cut more than $200 million in local funds
L.A. County sheriff opposes ‘sanctuary state’ bill, saying it would hinder law enforcement
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
![[20060326 (LA/A20) -- STATING THE CASE: Marchers organized by unions, religious organizations and immigrants rights groups carry signs and chant in downtown L.A. "People are really upset that all the work they do, everything that they give to this nation, is ignored," said Angelica Salas of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights. -- PHOTOGRAPHER: Photographs by Gina Ferazzi The Los Angeles Times] *** [Ferazzi, Gina -- - 109170.ME.0325.rights.12.GMF- Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times - Thousands of protesters march to city hall in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, March 25, 2006. They are protesting against House-passed HR 4437, an anti-immigration bill that opponents say will criminalize millions of immigrant families and anyone who comes into contact with them.]](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/722dda1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1983x1322+109+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fzbk%2Fdamlat_images%2FLA%2FLA_PHOTO_ARCHIVE%2FSDOCS%2854%29%2Fkx3lslnc.JPG)
