ICE seizes fraudulent documents from Weslaco home

WESLACO - Authorities seized more than 1,200 fraudulent documents from home here Thursday evening, including several hundred Social Security cards, birth certificates and vehicle titles from various states.

U.S. Border Patrol agents raided the home after receiving an anonymous tip about a group of illegal residents, officials said.

But once inside, they discovered the document stash and called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for assistance in determining whether the papers were stolen or counterfeit.

"It's unusual and alarming," ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda said. "It's a lot of documents."

Pruneda declined to provide the home's exact location, citing the ongoing investigation. Agents arrested a 52-year-old Mexican national but also refused to release her identity.

Investigators suspect the house may have been a hub for an identity theft ring, Pruneda said.
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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.