9/30/2014
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Border Patrol is looking to prevent teens from getting involved with organized crime rings.
Monday, a Border Patrol agent spent the day shooting video in the 449th State District Court, which primarily sees juvenile offenders.
Border Patrol confirms they are shooting a film, which will document the reality teens face when they commit crimes.
"One of our concerns is that criminal organizations take advantage or misguide our youth here in our community," agent Omar Zamora, with the Rio Grande Valley Sector, said.
Zamora said teens are increasingly recruited to smuggle humans and drugs and they are under the impression they won’t face major crimes if caught.
In August one teen learned the truth when he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of 9 immigrants in Palmview in a smuggling attempt gone wrong.
"We want to message that out to them that these organizations will take advantage of you and in the end you could hurt yourself, somebody else or end up in prison," Zamora said.
The documentary, called ‘Operation Detour RGV,’ highlights real teens facing real crimes.
As the border crisis continues in the Rio Grande Valley, the film couldn’t be more relevant.
"Now they can relay to high school children that are out and free the mistakes that they’ve made," Zamora said.
The film focuses on drug and human smuggling, but overall, Border Patrol hopes to show teens who commit major crimes.
Since the beginning of 2014, more than 1,000 teens have set foot in the 449th State District courtroom, which Judge Jessie Contreras presides over.
Nearly 400 of the teens are facing felony charges.
"We'd like to get some of the locals here on camera to do some interview so it kind of hits home," Zamora said.
Border Patrol hopes to catch teens before criminal organizations can recruit them and save them from a life riddled with crime.
The film should be completed by October, just in time for Red Ribbon Week.
It will be shared with high school and junior high schools in the Valley.
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