ICE prevents UAC smuggling incident in Arizona

YUMA, Ariz. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection thwarted an attempted smuggling incident with an unaccompanied alien child in Yuma April 29. U.S. border officials apprehended a woman attempting to smuggle a 5-year-old boy — identified as “John Doe” in the legal complaint — after the child’s mother allegedly paid a smuggler to transport him illegally into the United States.

CBP worked with the Mexican Consulate to find the child’s mother, a 24-year-old woman living in Veracruz, Mexico, who presented herself at the San Luis Port of Entry later that night to recover her child.

The mother claimed the smuggler coordinated with the child’s father to drop off the little boy. However, the child told investigators he was being taken to live with a man he didn’t know.

“The smuggling of unaccompanied alien children is among the most vile and inhumane crimes imaginable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigation Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “Even more vile, in this case the child’s own mother handed him over to strangers—mules—who attempted to smuggle him into the U.S. using fake identity documents. The woman posing as his guardian also admitted she was going to leave him with a man she didn’t know. It’s horrifying, heartbreaking, and a stark reminder of why HSI aggressively pursues these criminals and the networks that enable them.”

During an interview with ICE HSI special agents, the boy’s mother also revealed that she paid the smuggler, Gloria Lopez Corona, to bring her child to the United States — and that she intended to illegally enter the U.S. April 30 to join her husband, the child’s father, who is an illegal alien with a prior history of illegally entering the U.S.

ICE HSI takes swift action to investigate any criminal activity related to unaccompanied alien children. This includes investigating the exploitive smuggling networks that bring unaccompanied alien children to the United States and criminals who may exploit these at-risk youths in the United States.

“The mother and father in this case are actively violating U.S. border laws and undermining our nation’s security,” continued Burrola. “The father has been deported three times previously, and now both parents have endangered their young child by paying smugglers to facilitate illegal entry. Criminal smuggling networks have no regard for human life and trusting them with a child is both reckless and tragic.”

ICE HSI combats human smuggling by working with its law enforcement partners to deter, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks that engage in it. Special agents use their expertise and rely on HSI’s authorities to seize assets and eliminate profit incentives, work with nongovernmental organizations to protect and assist victims, and bring traffickers to justice.

If you suspect someone may be involved in or a victim of human smuggling or trafficking contact local law enforcement, dial 911 or the ICE Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE.