Bishop school on lock down as illegal immigrants scatter

Bishop Primary School was put on lock down for 30 minutes Wednesday as Border Patrol agents joined by various Bishop and Nueces County law enforcement officers searched for illegal immigrants in the brush surrounding the Bishop school.

Police were pursuing a driver who was in a stolen vehicle from Houston.

The vehicle went through a fence near Avene J in Bishop and got stuck in the mud a few yards later, according to police.

The driver, who was believed to be armed and smuggling weapons, along with seven other illegal immigrants, began running on foot and hid in the brush.

During the search, officers found ammunition for weapons in the vehicle and immediately notified Bishop Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Christina Gutierrez.

“We were notified of the situation and had the Primary School on lock down because it was the only school that might have been directly effected,” Gutierrez said.

“The doors were locked and nobody was allowed in or out of the campus until we got clearance from the chief of police about the apprehension,” she said.

“It was a smooth process and we were lucky enough not to be too affected by the situation.”

One immigrant gave up immediately, complaining of blisters on his feet, and the others were eventually caught after officers pursued them for a few miles with he assistance of a Department of Public Safety helicopter.

“With the assistance of Precinct 5 constables from Robstown, the Department of Public Safety, and the Border Patrol, we were able to apprehend the immigrants in a timely manner,” Guillermo “Willie” Vera, chief deputy for the Nueces County Constables Office in Precinct 4, said.

“The apprehension of the immigrants went smoothly and successfully.”

They are believed to be from El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, and they are currently in custody, likely facing deportation.