Syrian man caught trying to sneak into US at Mexico border
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Border agents in California apprehended a Syrian national over the weekend, saying he'd attempted to enter the U.S. by hiding on a train.
Agents at the Calexico West Port of Entry were observing a commercial railcar as it passed across the border on Friday around 6:15 a.m. when officers observed something amiss on the lower side of the train using the port’s imaging system.
According to a press release from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officers searched the train and discovered a 46-year-old man hidden in a compartment.
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“This apprehension highlights the fact that none of our inspections are routine, especially when people purposely attempt to avoid the process,” Port Director David Salazar said in a statement. “CBP puts a lot of effort in identifying, vetting and prosecuting people who just don’t want to abide by the legal process of entering our country.”
The man was interviewed and fingerprinted; the process revealed that he was a Syrian citizen with no paperwork to enter the U.S.
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He was charged with improper entry by an alien and sent to Imperial County Jail, where he will wait to stand trial.
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This latest apprehension comes as President Trump doubles down on threats to close the border.
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Immigration officials are grappling with historic numbers of border crossers, including families. Officials anticipated more than 100,000 apprehensions and encounters last month, the highest in over a decade.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.