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  4. Customs and Border Protection Officers at Hidalgo Avert Child Smuggling Attempt, Edinburg Woman Arrested

Customs and Border Protection Officers at Hidalgo Avert Child Smuggling Attempt, Edinburg Woman Arrested

Release Date
Tue, 07/24/2012

Hidalgo, Texas- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested an Edinburg, Texas woman who allegedly attempted to smuggle a young child into the United States.

On July 21, a red 2008 Nissan Altima driven by a 32-year-old female United States citizen arrived at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge. The female traveler presented a U.S. passport card for herself and a State of Texas birth certificate for a boy under the age of two whom she claimed to be her child. The vehicle and occupants were referred to secondary for further inspection and document review and it was there that officers discovered that the child was not related to the adult female traveler but was in fact a citizen and national from Mexico without any documents to enter or reside in the United States legally.

The adult female traveler was incarcerated pending appearance before a U.S. Federal Magistrate on criminal charges for violation of U.S. immigration law. The baby boy was taken to a local hospital for treatment of dehydration and subsequently released to a U.S. Health and Human Service-Office of Refugee Resettlement facility where he will be temporarily housed.

"Once again our officers have detected and thwarted a child smuggling attempt and this infant has been protected due to our officers' excellent inspectional techniques," said Efrain Solis Jr., Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. "The well-being of children is of utmost concern for us at CBP."

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 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