Border Patrol takes three into custody after Kellogg traffic stop

KELLOGG — A routine traffic stop last month resulted in the apprehension of three men by the United States Border Patrol.  

The stop was made by deputies with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office on eastbound Interstate 90 near Kellogg.  

The vehicle was occupied by four adult men and one juvenile female.  

According to Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Capt. Seth Green, when the responding deputy attempted to communicate with the occupants of the vehicle, all began to behave suspiciously, which prompted the deputy to ask for everyone’s identification.  

According to Green, the deputy believed the documentation they had provided was fake.  

“We’ve undergone extensive training with Border Patrol on recognizing false documentation,” Green said. “This includes recognizing or noticing common names, or even the ability to answer questions.”  

According to the SCSO daily briefing, one of the male occupants of the vehicle did all the answering for the juvenile female, who was wearing clothing that “didn’t match the climate and (was) very withdrawn.” 

The vehicle driver provided the deputy with an invalid driver’s license, which allowed the deputy to detain the vehicle until Border Patrol agents could arrive.  

Once the agents arrived at the scene, it was determined three of the males provided forged documents, including forged border crossing documents and permanent United States residency cards, and several other forged documents.  

The three men who provided the forged documents were taken into custody of the Border Patrol agents.  

According to Green, the training from Border Patrol includes recognizing the quality of the forged documents, which helps determine how they were obtained.  

“These false credentials were likely purchased,” Green said.  

Green told the Shoshone News-Press earlier this week that law enforcement has seen an increase in illegal immigrants moving through the region via I-90 over the past few years.