Northern Minnesota border patrol agents stop smuggling attempt

WARROAD, Minn. -- Border patrol agents in northern Minnesota stopped a smuggling attempt in late September, officials said. 

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agent learned on Sept. 25 that two cars had made unlawful entry near Roseau. The agent found one car at a gas station in Grygla, while the other car had already left the scene. The officer learned that one of the migrants was a citizen of Great Britain and the other three were from Ireland. 

The CBP says they were all unlawfully in the U.S. and were taken into custody.

The next day, another border patrol agent found the other car at a restaurant in Bemidji. The agent found eight migrants - seven from Great Britain and one Irish citizen - and determined they had unlawfully entered the U.S. 

In a later update, CBP said the eight individuals from Ireland range in age from 1 to 56 years old -- five males and three females. The four people from England range in age from 18 to 48 years old -- two females and two males.

The migrants and cars were taken to the Warroad Port of Entry for processing. All but three of the individuals were released with a notice to appear in court. The three who remain in custody are under removal proceedings for violations of U.S. immigration policies, CBP said.