New details on alleged 'human smuggling scheme' in Lisbon Falls, Maine
The 17 immigrants arrested Tuesday were housed and employed by a Massachusetts company, officials report
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WMTW Updated: 10:22 PM EDT Mar 22, 2023
LISBON, Maine —
Border Patrol officials are releasing new details on what they are calling an "elaborate human smuggling scheme."
That's after 17 immigrants who were described as "undocumented non-citizens" in a statement released by Border Patrol, were arrested Tuesday night. Lisbon police were working to solve a hit-and-run in February, when the investigation led them to the discovery of the immigrants at the home, officials said.
Border Patrol agents say they later learned the immigrants were found to befrom Nicaragua and Guatemala.
“We are seeing a sharp increase in the flow of illegal labor in and out of Maine,” said William Maddocks, chief patrol agent of the Houlton Sector. “Border Patrol will continue to protect our local communities here in Maine and the U.S. as a whole by ensuring those illegally entering the country are apprehended.”
Agents reportthe immigrants were employed by an unnamed Massachusetts-based company, which also rented the home at 93 Main Street for them.
Border Patrol officials say housing 17 immigrants in Lisban Falls home is ’unsafe and degrading’ after arrest Tuesday.
Photos provided by Border Patrol show several airbeds and mattresses side-by-side on the home's floor, with only thin blankets covering most of them.
"Housing 17 people in one house is unsafe and degrading," said Maddocks.
Twin-sized mattresses were found side-by-side in Lisbon Falls home during the arrest of 17 immigrants Tuesday.
"The exploitation of the undocumented population will continue as long as there is no consequence. We will do all we can to remove the incentives that drive such exploitation," he continued.
More beds with thin blankets found shoved together at Lisbon Falls home, where 17 immigrants were arrested Tuesday.
After being brought to a detainment center in Rangeley,two of the immigrants were found to have re-entered the country after being previously removed, officials said. Re-entering is a felony crime punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine.
Four of the immigrants were found to be already in removal proceedings, having allegedly entered the U.S. illegally by crossing the southwest border.
The other 11 immigrants were entered into removal proceedings by Border Patrol agents, who say the incident is still under investigation.
https://www.wmtw.com/article/human-smuggling-scheme-elaborate-maine-lisbon-falls/43393154