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  4. Mexican Citizen Charged with Alien Smuggling in Champlain

Mexican Citizen Charged with Alien Smuggling in Champlain

Release Date
Tue, 05/29/2018

CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Champlain Station intercepted an alien smuggling attempt in Champlain last week.

On Tuesday morning, May 22, the U.S. Border Patrol received information from a concerned citizen that a man who was wet from the knees down was hiding in a gazebo on Oak Street.  Agents who responded to the area observed a vehicle driving on Oak Street near the U.S. and Canadian border in Champlain, N.Y.  They then saw the vehicle stop near a gazebo and pick up a man who had been hiding and was wet from the knees down.  After the vehicle drove off, agents followed and performed a vehicle stop.

The driver provided a Permanent Resident card identifying himself as Feliciano Diaz-Estrada, a Mexican citizen with resident status in the United States.  The passenger was identified as David Lopez-Garcia, a Mexican citizen with no immigration documentation allowing him to enter or remain in the United States.  Agents arrested both subjects and transported them to the Champlain Border Patrol Station for additional record checks and processing.

Swanton Sector agents patrol the international border.
Swanton Sector agents patrol the international
border.

“Concerned citizens continue to assist agents with the important job of protecting or borders,” said Patrol Agent in Charge Norm Lague.  “Community members are an important part of our team when it comes to keeping our communities safe.”

The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York is charging Feliciano Diaz-Estrada with Alien Smuggling, a felony under 8 USC 1324.

Record checks reveled that David Lopez-Garcia has no immigration or criminal history in the United States.  He is charged with Illegal Entry, a misdemeanor under 8 USC 1325.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021