(The Center Square) – United States Customs and Border Patrol thwarted child smuggling in its tracks last week in Arizona.
A 28-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested after driving two minors who were Mexican citizens through the Port of San Luis. According to CBP, she falsely claimed that the children were hers despite no provable family connection.
The woman allegedly gave authorities two real American birth certificates that did not belong to the children, who had no actual documentation for them. The agency added that the children told them they were given sleep medication.
“Our CBP officers prevented this child smuggling attempt utilizing their experience and inspectional skills,” Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis, said in a statement. “CBP remains committed to upholding our U.S. immigration laws.”
The law enforcement agency confiscated her car and arrested her for “alleged violation of U.S. immigration law.”
Human and drug trafficking attempts are common occurrences at the border, and Americans will sometimes play a role in the transportation of drugs or people into the country. Although arrests have dropped since a Biden administration Executive Order in the Tucson Sector, according to KJZZ, agents are still overwhelmed across the border with the influx of migrants that some argue it takes focus away from stopping trafficking at legal ports of entry.
According to the Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative, 80% of adults and 56% of children who are international trafficking victims come through “official border control points” globally.
