MUNSING. Mich. (WWJ) - Federal authorities say a convicted drug dealer was among ten illegal immigrants arrested during a routine traffic stop in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
U.S. Border Patrol agents in Munising, on Monday, August 12, pulled over the driver of a white Chevy van with multiple passengers inside.
Upon questioning, border agents say the driver and nine passengers all admitted to being without proper documents and in the U.S. illegally.
Everyone in the van was taken to the Border Patrol station in Sault Ste. Marie where, during processing, officials say four of the suspects were identified as "previously removed aliens."
Record checks revealed that one of the men, Jose Bernal-Medeles, a citizen of Mexico, had been formally removed from the U.S. in 2001, 2007, and 2015. In addition to these removals, he had been convicted of narcotics charges in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“Today the men and woman of the United States Border Patrol made Munising safer by removing a convicted illegal alien drug dealer and nine others from the streets,” said Sault Ste. Marie Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Andrew Halonen. “Our agents will continue to enforce the laws of the United States while also continuing to keep our country, state, and local communities safe.”
Bernal and the three other previously removed aliens were turned over to the custody of ICE/ERO and are being held pending Reinstatement of Prior Order of Removal. The rest will be held pending removal proceedings.
Anyone with information on suspicious activity is asked to call the Detroit Sector Border Patrol’s BorderWatch telephone number toll-free at 800-537-3220.