Human Smuggling Sentencing

Officials say 34-year-old Rafael Valles of the McAllen area was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years in federal prison. A Mexican citizen, 32-year-old Refugio Reyna-Huerta, received an eight-year prison term.

Both pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants.

Investigators say a February 2010 traffic accident near Falfurrias led to the death of a person from Mexico. Authorities say the victim was among 17 illegal immigrants being transported in a fleeing pickup when the truck rolled.

Seven other convicted members of the smuggling ring received prison terms Tuesday ranging from nearly two years to more than six years.

Two men received stiff sentences for running an illegal-immigrant smuggling business that was exposed when a Toyota Tundra carrying 17 of their clients crashed, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston announced today.

100 of those Caught only 23 prosecuted

Why do they CBP spending so much money if they don't prosecute anyone?
About 77 percent of the 327,577 illegal aliens caught along the Mexican border by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during fiscal 2011 were not prosecuted, according to government data analyzed by the office of Rep. John Culberson.

The Texas Republican, whose district includes parts of Houston, submitted a document containing the data for the record at a Wednesday hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. The hearing focused on the budget for CBP.

Culberson gave CNSNews.com a copy of the document, which contains prosecution rate figures for illegal aliens apprehended by CBP between FY2007 and FY2011. According to figures made public by CBP, 327,577 illegal aliens were caught along the southwest border during fiscal year 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010 thru Sept. 30, 2011).

Of those 327,577, only 74,975 (about 22.9 percent) were prosecuted, according to Justice Department data obtained by Culberson, while 252,602 (77.1 percent) were not prosecuted.

Culberson said during the hearing that those who were not prosecuted were “home in time for dinner.”

Chopper Patrol U.S. Mexican Border

Army helicopters patrol US-Mexico border

500 National Guardsmen will be assisting Customs and Border Patrol agents in keeping an eye on the entire southwest border. 02-29-2012 for at least the Next Year.