A Mexican citizen, Samuel Mendoza-Torres, is facing federal charges after allegedly trying to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol agent with $400 following his arrest near the Santa Teresa station in New Mexico. According to authorities, he said, “Can we fix this?” while being transported in custody. He later admitted to helping others cross the border illegally. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

In a separate case, Kevin Dominguez, 26, from Katy, Texas, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for hitting a Border Patrol agent with his car during a checkpoint stop in August 2023. He fled the scene, leading to a high-speed chase. A migrant was found hidden in his trunk.

Meanwhile, in El Paso, four men were arrested after federal agents observed suspicious activity at a motel used to hide undocumented migrants. The suspects—Yair Aguilar-Flores, Angel Carrillo-Carrillo, Jorge Lopez-Acevedo, and Jesus Reyes-Villagran—allegedly helped smuggle people across the border. Authorities rescued seven undocumented individuals during the operation. Each suspect faces up to 10 years in prison.

Finally, in Austin, Melvin Funes-Canales, a Honduran national, was arrested for illegally re-entering the U.S. after multiple deportations. He has prior convictions for burglary, theft, and re-entry offenses and could face another 10 years behind bars.

These cases underscore the challenges at the southern border and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to crack down on illegal crossings and smuggling operations.