Border Patrol sees an increase in Illegal Immigrants trying to cross into the US

Hidalgo, Texas (KVEO NEWSCENTER 23) — Human smuggling is a big business.

"It's a money making business and that's what they are here to do and they look at these people not as humans but as cargo." Said Border Patrol Spokesperson Henry Mendiola

Border Patrol spokesperson Henry Mendiola says these illegal immigrants will pay between $1500- $4000 in hopes of crossing the border onto US soil.
Mendiola says smugglers have received word because of the sequester Immigration and Customs Enforcement is releasing some illegal immigrants from detention centers, because of that he says these smugglers are now telling the illegal immigrants false promises.

"When you get caught Border Patrol is going to give you documents and you are going to be released, and that's far from the truth, the fact is when Border Patrol encounters you, you will be arrested, you will be detained, processed and turned over to ICE removal operations and you will be detained until such time you are formally removed."

Mendiola says since the sequester went into place they have seen a big spike in illegal immigrants trying to cross the border.

Mendiola says despite the sequester Border Patrol will continue with their day to day operation.

"We are still going to have agents out here 24-7, on weekends, holidays, nights, we are still going to be out here we are still going to be patrolling between the ports of entry because we have a mission and that’s to secure the border and we are going to continue doing that."

ICE has not released how many illegal immigrants have been released from the detention centers or which ones since the sequester went into place.