Justin De La Torre, Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent, announced that agents intercepted a human smuggling attempt on Highway 95. The operation resulted in the arrest of two U.S. citizens and the referral of three Mexican nationals for deportation. This information was shared on the social media platform X.
“Two U.S. citizens were arrested after Blythe Station agents intercepted a human smuggling attempt through the Highway 95 immigration checkpoint north of Yuma on Monday,” said De La Torre, Border Patrol Chief. “The driver and passenger now face smuggling charges under 8 USC 1324. The three Mexican nationals they were smuggling were arrested for illegal entry and will be deported from the U.S. The driver and passenger now face smuggling charges under 8 USC 1324.”
The Yuma Sector encompasses parts of southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, with stations located in Yuma and Wellton, Arizona, as well as Blythe, California. According to De La Torre, agents utilize checkpoints and patrol corridors along U.S. 95 and Interstate 8 (I-8), employing intelligence-led operations to counteract human smuggling and contraband activities. The sector’s geography includes desert and riverine areas that smugglers exploit using vehicle loads and staged pickups, making interior checkpoints a crucial component of enforcement efforts north of the border.
The legal framework under 8 U.S.C. §1324 criminalizes actions such as bringing in, transporting, or harboring noncitizens unlawfully, alongside conspiring or aiding those acts. Penalties vary based on conduct and circumstances, with enhancements for offenses committed for financial gain or those that endanger life. Charges often arise from checkpoint interceptions where drivers or passengers knowingly facilitate transport. The statute’s scope allows for the prosecution of drivers, coordinators, and others involved in smuggling schemes across various roles.
Interior immigration checkpoints are a standard tool used by Border Patrol beyond immediate border lines. The Highway 95 checkpoint north of Yuma has been the site of multiple interdictions, including previous weekend operations where agents from Blythe Station (Hwy 95) and Wellton Station (I-8) seized narcotics and halted smuggling attempts. These fixed sites complement roving patrols and serve as choke points on common smuggling routes leading toward interstate corridors.
De La Torre was appointed Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent in January 2025 after holding senior positions such as Deputy Chief Patrol Agent in the Tucson Sector. In media interviews, he has discussed shifting operational demands as encounters fluctuate, with Yuma agents supporting other federal efforts while maintaining checkpoint and corridor enforcement. His tenure emphasizes coordinated operations with partners and targeted interdictions along key routes like U.S. 95 and I-8.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for safeguarding the nation’s borders and preventing illegal entry. As outlined on its history webpage, CBP has operated since its establishment in 1924 across 328 ports of entry, protecting 7,000 miles of land borders and 95,000 miles of maritime borders.
