A Border Patrol employee was caught trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico boundary with an illegal immigrant in his vehicle.
Carlos Ivan Vargas was arrested March 7 while entering the country at the San Ysidro border crossing in California. A Customs and Border Protection officer noticed Mr. Vargas’ Toyota Prius was riding low in the back and the privacy screen in the trunk area appeared to be bulging.
When the officer asked Mr. Vargas to pop the trunk, he spotted an illegal immigrant.
Court documents say Mr. Vargas is employed as a communications supervisor for the Border Patrol, working out of the agency’s Chula Visa Station.
CBP, which oversees both the Border Patrol and the ports of entry, would not say whether he is still employed or drawing a salary, but said it is taking the matter seriously.
“We do not tolerate misconduct within our ranks,” the agency said in a statement to The Washington Times. “When we discover any alleged or potential misconduct, we immediately refer it for investigation and cooperate fully with any criminal or administrative investigations. This is the case whether the alleged misconduct occurs on or off duty. Federal privacy laws prohibit discussion of individual cases.”
Mr. Vargas told investigators he lives in Mexico with his girlfriend and commutes to the U.S. for his job.
He denied smuggling an illegal immigrant but admitted he thought he was smuggling money in. He said he was carrying $1,500 and expected to get paid $250.
The migrant, identified in court documents as Dagoberto Carrillo Rodriguez, a Mexican citizen, said he paid $15,000 to be smuggled in.
He flew from Nayarit, Mexico, to Tijuana, where he met with a smuggler who goes by the name El Compita. Mr. Rodriguez said he was headed to Los Angeles.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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