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  4. CBP Thwarts Human Smuggling Attempt at Hidalgo International Bridge

CBP Thwarts Human Smuggling Attempt at Hidalgo International Bridge

Release Date
Fri, 04/06/2018

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a woman for violations of immigration law in connection with an alleged smuggling attempt involving three female Mexican citizens.

“Uncovering violations of immigration law and preventing illegal narcotics from entering the country are part of the CBP mission, and our officers continue to uphold that mission diligently,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

A CBP officer conducts a primary inspection at Hidalgo International Bridge
A CBP officer conducts a primary inspection
at Hidalgo International Bridge.

On Sunday, April 1, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a 40-year-old female United States citizen from Porter, Texas driving a 2002 black Ford F-150 pickup truck. The woman claimed to be traveling with her two daughters and granddaughter and presented U. S. birth certificates for them to substantiate her claim. A primary CBP officer noted discrepancies and referred the family to CBP secondary for further examination.

In secondary, CBP officers discovered that the three women were not the true owners of the entry documents presented nor were they daughters/granddaughter of the 40-year-old woman. Further examination revealed that the three women were all citizens of Mexico from Mexico City with no documents to lawfully enter or reside in the U.S.

CBP officers arrested the 40-year-old female United States citizen on alien smuggling charges.

For more information about CBP, please click on the attached link.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021