Immigration officials pick up seven here

An alleged cry for help resulted in an immigration round-up in Clarendon Saturday.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office received a call February 1 of a 19-year-old female who had come into the office of the Western Skies Motel, claiming she was being trafficked while traveling with a male and female person. She claimed their vehicle had broken down and while the other two were dealing with the vehicle, she had escaped.

Blackburn said further investigation revealed the woman was part of a group of seven, who were traveling in a vehicle that had indeed broken down. She and four others were illegal immigrants, and two people were involved in transporting the illegal immigrants.

“She just wanted out and away from them,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn’s office contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Department and ICE, which responded quickly. ICE then took all seven individuals into custody.

The sheriff said one of the people involved in the transportation of the illegal immigrants had actually been deported on January 15 and was already back in the country.

“I want to express my appreciation for how quickly ICE and CID responded to help us,” Blackburn said.