California Border Patrol Finds Woman Hidden In Wall Of Van (PHOTO)

Earlier this week, border patrol agents discovered a Mexican woman attempting to enter the country illegally by hiding in the paneling of a 1993 Dodge Caravan.

At the San Ysidro port of entry on the California-Mexico border, a 43-year-old male U.S. citizen from Vista California was stopped during a routine vehicle inspection. Border patrol agents "noticed that the driver's side quarter panel felt and sounded unusual when tapped," according to Fox 5 San Diego.

Officers then referred the car and driver to an inspection area where the panel was removed and the woman was discovered.

According to a report by MyFoxPhoenix.com, the driver of the van will face criminal charges, and the woman will be held in the U.S. to serve as a material witness to the incident before she is deported to Mexico.

But that wasn't the only discovery this weekend on the California border.

According to Fox 5 San Diego, over the same weekend, more than "1,100 pounds of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin valued at $5.9 million was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers" and 12 busts were made for human smuggling on the California border.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story speculated as to the Mexican woman's intentions in coming to the U.S., and this language has been removed.

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Comments

[arizcitizen]

12:59 AM on 05/11/2012

i guess this qualifies as news to you readers of hp, in the border states we don't even notice unless there are at least a dozen illegals crammed into a van. ON E ILLLEGAL? come on that is like a drop of water in the ocean. Folkls they are still coming over here in vans, trucks, cars. boats, mules, lite airplanes and even submarines by the thousands. Wake up ans smell the tequila.

[spytheweb]

03:19 PM on 05/10/2012

Wasn't it a few weeks ago that the story was zero illegal aliens were coming to America? In fact Mexicans were returning to Mexico? Since then i have seen a safe house bust with 100 illegal aliens, 3 traffic accidents with vans packed with illegal aliens. As far as i see it's business as usual.

No illegal aliens coming here and/or going back to Mexico was disinformation.

[TRhett]

11:03 PM on 03/13/2012

You know, it occurs to me that if these people spent as much time and energy trying to fix their own country as they do trying to get here, we might have a different situation. And one commenter is exactly right about the Mexican government's attitude: go north if you possibly can - let the U. S. deal with you, because we're tired of trying.

[Shauna Ventura]

09:48 PM on 04/13/2012

They are tired of doing what? They are coming here because your government is greedy just like Mexico government. They both have a part in the corruption In Mexico but I don't hear anything about that. I tell you what, yeah we will push all of them back into Mexico so the only living they can make is joining the Cartel. Then they can come over here with guns instead of empty handed like they do now. You will never fix the illegal immigration problem until yoiu fix the reason they come, did you ever think about that?

[TRhett]

02:39 AM on 04/14/2012

Uhm, that was my point . . . but thanks for the reinforcement.

[Winter Skye]

05:31 PM on 03/10/2012

Why do they pay coyotes thousands of dollars to get smuggled into the USA (and some have died crammed in vans) rather than do what everyone else does (with half a brain): FLY AND OVERSTAY A VISA?! DUH!!!!

[dtairtime]

03:07 PM on 03/11/2012

They likely won't ever tell us but I suspect most of the illegals we get wouldn't even qualify for a visa. Communicable diseases, criminal history, prior contacts with BP, etc are common for illegals crossing this way.

Otherwise why wouldn't they come here the way about 40% of the illegals we have already do? It's cheaper, safer and must be WAY less stress.

[Winter Skye]

05:43 PM on 03/11/2012

Oh, maybe you're right! But is it against the law to be a felon and leave the country? If you've serve your time, why would you be held prisoner in your own land?

[TRhett]

11:08 PM on 03/13/2012

they wouldn't qualify . . . hence the Mexican government's attitude (hypocritical, as pointed out below) - encourage them to go north so the U. S. can deal with the trash - but don't send any of your trash to Mexico.

[Shauna Ventura]

10:03 PM on 04/13/2012

Well, Duh, maybe because you have to have permission which takes years to get and they don't have years to wait to support their family, which most family members are US citizens just like you. If you would not do whatever it takes to support your family then I would say you were not a good person. I think someone risking their life and imprisonment to support their family deserves more respect then what you are giving them. These people have had son's, daughter's, mother's, father's, uncle's, aunt's, etc. die by cartel, border patrol, rapist, smugglers, etc. and you treat them like crap even more? May God have Mercy on you when you pass.

[spytheweb]

06:28 PM on 05/10/2012

Mexico is not Somalia. Mexicans are lazy and think America is the land of milk and honey. When the welfare dollars dry up they will go home.

Japan has no natural resources and yet they built the world's 3rd largest economy. Japanese are not Mexicans, if they were they would starve to death. So the Japanese got busy.

So it takes years to get here. Coming to the US is not a human right. When you can't get permission then you have to settle for staying in the country were you were born and run by your countryman.

Cartels run wild because the country allows them to. When you live in a country where the people think laws are a joke what did you think was going to happen. This is the country your fore fathers made and it ain't going to fix itself.

[yetanotherslackjaw]

04:53 AM on 03/10/2012

[Follow-on post bit ] Back to topic: Safety Net System Overload

The accumulated wealth is then used to pay off low interest government assisted loans on TWO homes in the area, cant fault these apparently vacant head of household families [w/multiple dependants] from accepting Gov help keeping a roof overhead. All in all it’s American as its gets, I guess their big on baseball too, I heard the little ones call out padre, padre while in the presence of some visiting adult male friends. I thought to myself maybe their from the San Diego area, personally I root for the Dodgers; I'm not much of a Padre’s fan…

[yetanotherslackjaw]

04:53 AM on 03/10/2012

Coming from a Hispanic family, I believe from Texas originally [at least that's where they crossed] I consider my factual observations to be just that. Note: Although overtones of prejudice and even borderline envy may be present thoughts of superiority and/or hatred don't even enter it.

Back to topic: Saftey Net System Overload

There's a lad I know who's [to be kind, of pre-Columbian ancestry] grandmother, maybe great grandmother spends the best part of one morning each month out in front of the local government $$ assistance office buying up as many EBT dollars at 50 cents or even as low as 20 cents on the dollar mostly if not entirely from individuals with pre-Columbian ancestry whom may or may not have the proper documentation to be in the US, regardless its cash in hand. The accumulated wealth is then used to buy wholesale household goods and expired food & health care consumables etc..., which are then sold at the local flea market to mostly individuals again with the general appearance of a pre-Columbian ancestry at inflated prices. Let’s say it's alleged at this point that these sales generate no taxable income. The Gov.. EBT $$ tracking records show purchases of bulk food and such being made so reissuance to the original individual thus this abusive $$$, one could even say prejudicial towards individuals of similar ancestry, cycle self-perpetuates without question. [see the follow-on post bit]

[charmainefromwa]

03:05 AM on 03/10/2012

She wasn't smuggled it came from the factory that way, Another hardworking illegal hired by the car company.

[steves1709]

10:15 PM on 03/09/2012

Lemme guess... she was the decoy and they forgot to inspect the spare tire, seat cushions, etc and the guy smuggled in several kilos of cocaine successfully.

[wendy block]

09:53 PM on 03/09/2012

Some of us forget that we came from immigrants. Let them have a better life here, if that is what they are putting their life on the line for. People are people.

[steves1709]

10:03 PM on 03/09/2012

There's a right, legal way and many illegal ways to immigrate. Jammed into the panels of a minivan, I'm guessing, is the wrong way to do it.

[Shauna Ventura]

10:11 PM on 04/13/2012

No, what would be wrong is if she just shot American tourists in Mexico and robbed them to support her family. She did not kill anyone but you would think so the way your acting.

[Joanne3905]

10:26 PM on 03/09/2012

Absolutely NOT. They take American jobs. They enter our country illegally....Ship them OUT.

[Ibiradni Sanchez]

10:48 PM on 03/09/2012

are you worried they are gonna start working at mcdonalds and burger king? or maybe walmart! seriously! what jobs are they taking that you are interested in? last time i checked all the good jobs are taken by legal people with an education!

[We the SHEEPle]

12:16 AM on 03/10/2012

Amen!!!

[gina victoria]

09:20 PM on 03/09/2012

good job !!! continue keepin them out !!!

[lacabrera]

09:12 PM on 03/09/2012

Wonder what the post left out ,or deleted from the woman story ,or her intentions for coming to the U S at age 43 ,normally they come here at the age of ,ten or eleven ?

[steves1709]

10:06 PM on 03/09/2012

The guy driving the van was 43. Woman's age not stated. Perhaps smuggled in for the sex trades or someone paid him to bring a family member - or mail order bride!

[lifehub]

04:37 AM on 03/10/2012

It doesn't make any difference 'what the post left out'. Bottom line is the woman is an illegal intruder into the United States, period.

[Shauna Ventura]

10:22 PM on 04/13/2012

I don't a consider taking care of your family illegal; if you are robbing, murdering, dealing drugs, etc., then yeah that is illegal.

[Pleasehold]

07:57 PM on 03/09/2012

There is not enough work for people 3 generations rooted in USA! We are having a difficult time paying on our worthless homes. That is why we do not want anymore minivan panel hiding people coming here.

[Ibiradni Sanchez]

08:16 PM on 03/09/2012

right...and you'll probably the first one to go out to those fields and orchards and work til your hands blister!

[mastock1]

08:32 PM on 03/09/2012

I will, been out of work for a while.

[Joanne3905]

10:32 PM on 03/09/2012

There are work visas in place to help our farmers out. My son was fired from his job by a boss who said "why should I pay you $15 an hour when I can pick an illegal up in front of Home Depot for half that. And my son's friend had a lucrative painting business and was run out of business by being underbid on every job by crews of illegals. Please try to understand how this insanity is ruining our country.

[Shauna Ventura]

10:25 PM on 04/13/2012

Maybe you can get a book on how to become debt free. Too many Americans rely on credit cards and that is why they are in trouble, don't blame illegals for your poor spending habbits. Try not to spend more then you have in cash.

[arizcitizen]

01:46 AM on 05/11/2012

Read the article and try and stay on topic.

[happyjoyjoy333]

07:17 PM on 03/09/2012

Illegal Mexicans aren't taking away the jobs from American workers. Mexicans will work twice as hard for half as much as the average American. They do without extras, and live within their means and reuse and recycle everything.
Illegal Mexicans do the jobs Americans WON'T. I don't know about the rest of the US, but here in SC the majority of unemployed people are fast to jump into the line to get their unemployment checks, and spend their spare time filling out fake job applications so they can stay on unemployment. Only when they have used all their extensions, do they sincerely look for work. Mexican workers don't take free rides. They WORK for their money. I cannot fault ANY Mexican for wanting to work, however he gets it, legal or illegal. If I needed work to provide for my family I would cross any border too to get it. Mexican workers, legal and illegal, have my respect. American's on the dole (without children) have my lack of it.

[linkthereaper]

09:33 PM on 03/09/2012

dont forget that they use tax payers money and dont pay taxes themself.... think you forgot that one....

[1ifhtims]

11:22 PM on 03/09/2012

Clearly by stating they would do something illegal to support their family, happyjoyjoy is not understanding the problem so many are having with people being here illegally and mooching off the system. Anyone who feels they are special enough to go about it illegally (obviously feels they are better than those abiding by the law), IS cutting corners, cutting out hard work, and is therefore taking a free ride from others who have put in their hard and HONEST work. That is a good reminder you posted.

[Shauna Ventura]

10:36 PM on 04/13/2012

No, if you were up to speed, you would know they have something called tax id numbers to pay taxes. And, for your info they don't get child tax credit like a US citizen does, so unlike you they don't get a big check at the end of the year. I guess you would say then they pay more in taxes then you because they don't get most of it back like you.

[penhog]

10:08 PM on 03/09/2012

Absolute false info...they take over all construction jobs regardless of minority laws. They exclude all non-hispanic workers and legal firms have to compete with illegal, cheating scofflaws who rabbit back to Mexico when the law comes looking for them. We need immigrant workers in a controlled quota system not he illegal racial warfare used against Citizens now. By the way Mexican workers are lately arrived to all field work, it used to be all done by whites and blacks.

[NancyY]

04:32 AM on 03/11/2012

After Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans and surrounding areas, contractors showed up in droves to help with the rebuilding efforts - but did they hire the stricken citizens there, who were begging for work? No, they brought in Mexicans.

[happyjoyjoy333]

05:28 PM on 03/11/2012

re: "By the way Mexican workers are lately arrived to all field work, it used to be all done by whites and blacks. "

Where have you been living, on the moon?
Did you ever hear of Chavez?
We're talking the 60's & 70s here.

[Without reason]

07:13 PM on 03/09/2012

Man, Wrapped up like a burrito! The auto manufacturer needs to redesign that car. They can make more space inside for legal occupants. Future standard option on cars sold in Arizona and New Mexico is the underseat mounted house cleaner/yard maintenance, and automatic flat tire changer. Is it a beamer or a beaner?

[ziggysledz]

06:57 PM on 03/09/2012

Funny how if she made it a few hundred more yards, she would qualify for every handout possible.

[Pleasehold]

07:48 PM on 03/09/2012

Right?

[penhog]

10:09 PM on 03/09/2012

slaves have a great life in the USA.

[ziggysledz]

08:55 AM on 03/10/2012

So now they are slaves. Stay in Mexico and voila no more slaves.