U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of San Luis have reported an alleged child smuggling attempt on April 29. A 23-year-old female Mexican citizen and Legal Permanent Resident was arrested by CBP officers during the incident at approximately 3 a.m. at the San Luis I Port of Entry. The woman was driving a 2013 Chevrolet sedan with a small child asleep in the back seat.
The woman presented a U.S. birth certificate for the child, claiming to be the mother. However, CBP officers noticed that the child appeared to be in an unusually deep sleep and did not match the age on the birth certificate. Further investigation revealed no family relationship between the woman and the minor, and the birth certificate, although legitimate, did not belong to the child. The child, a 5-year-old boy, was identified as a Mexican citizen, lacking the required valid entry documents.
The woman admitted to giving sleep sedatives to the minor to aid in crossing undetected. "Sedating children is a dangerous and common tactic we see utilized by human smugglers attempting to avoid detection through our ports of entry," stated Chris Leon, area port director for San Luis. "Our CBP officers are up to date on emerging smuggling trends and committed to safeguarding our borders, especially when it comes to the protection of children."
The vehicle was seized, and the woman was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Officials explained federal law permits officers to charge individuals by complaint, which allows charges for criminal activity without assuming guilt. An individual remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
CBP's Office of Field Operations leads the anti-terrorism mission at U.S. ports, screening all individuals, vehicles, and goods entering the United States and facilitating legitimate trade and travel. Their responsibilities include narcotics interdiction, immigration and trade law enforcement, as well as protecting the food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection stands as the largest law enforcement organization in America and the first unified border management agency globally. Comprising over 65,000 personnel, CBP ensures the security of the nation through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
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