Rouses Point, N.Y. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Champlain Station intercepted an alien smuggling attempt near the Rouses Point Port of Entry early Wednesday evening. One of the smuggled aliens was deported to China less than a year ago.
“This arrest is a great example of the vigilance our Border Patrol agents display on a daily basis,” said Champlain Station Patrol Agent in Charge Norm Lague. “Their quick response foiled a smuggling attempt and prevented a previously deported alien from illegally re-entering the United States.”
During the early evening hours of February 28, the Tactical Communications Center of the Swanton Border Sector detected two people walking through a field towards the international border near the port of entry.
A Border Patrol agent in the area observed a black Toyota Tacoma with Massachusetts license plates drive north on 276, and soon afterwards another agent observed the same vehicle driving south. Agents performed a traffic stop and observed the vehicle contained four people. During questioning, two occupants in the back seat admitted to just illegally entering the United States. Agents arrested all four and transported them to the Champlain Border Patrol Station for additional record checks and processing
with Canada.
Records revealed that the driver, Ciao Cesar Faria de Souza, 27, a citizen of Brazil, was ordered deported from the United States in 2013. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York is charging Faria de Souza with Alien Smuggling, a felony under 8 USC 1324.
Records checks also revealed that one of the smuggled aliens, Va Meng Joe, 53, born in China, has a lengthy criminal record. On September 5, 2017, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported to China. The U.S. Attorney is charging Joe with Re-Entry after Removal, a felony under 8 USC 1326.
The other smuggled alien, Elianay Goncalves-Carreiro, 32, is a citizen of Brazil. Record checks reveled that he has no immigration or criminal history in the United States. He is charged with Illegal Entry, a misdemeanor under 8 USC 1325.
There were no charges filed for the fourth individual.
The Swanton Sector is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The assistance of citizens is invaluable to the Border Patrol's border security mission and we welcome community members' help to keep our nation’s borders safe. Please report suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.
For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.