NEW ORLEANS – Recent arrests by New Orleans Sector Border Patrol agents, impacting alleged smuggling attempts involving 11 undocumented aliens, underscore the sector’s commitment to furthering border security.
On Oct. 14, U.S. Border Patrol agents, assigned to the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team Criminal Interdiction Unit, arrested Waleska Carolina Anduray-Perez, a Honduran citizen, near Gulfport, Miss. for violating the conditions of her supervised release.
In a separate event on Oct. 16, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Baton Rouge Border Patrol Station arrested Sabino Guerrero-Estrada, a Mexican citizen, near Baton Rouge, La. for allegedly smuggling nine illegal aliens. Of the nine arrested illegal aliens, six had been previously deported from the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations furthered the investigation and presented the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
On Nov. 13, a Federal grand jury of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, convened and returned seven indictments for the defendants charged in this case. Sabino Guerrero-Estrada was indicted for transporting illegal aliens within the United States for commercial or private financial gain. The six previously deported illegal aliens were indicted for illegal re-entry in the United States.
As these apprehensions illustrate, the U.S. Border Patrol New Orleans Sector supports the National Border Patrol Strategy and South Texas Campaign to heighten security throughout the South Texas/Gulf Corridor, and through its ongoing integrated enforcement efforts seeks to cause a persistent change in the tactics, techniques and procedures of criminal organizations operating within this corridor.
Utilizing a whole-of-government approach with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the New Orleans Sector supports the South Texas Campaign by conducting intelligence-based enforcement operations throughout the South Texas/Gulf Corridor in order to disrupt and degrade smuggling operations.
New Orleans Sector Border Patrol Chief Jonathan Richards stated, “Our goal is to effect border security on the Southwest border by providing actionable intelligence in support of our South Texas Campaign partners.”
New Orleans HSI Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., stated, “Human smugglers routinely treat people as little more than cargo and place aliens at great risk of harm all in the name of illegal profits. HSI’s excellent partnership with U.S. Border Patrol sends a strong message that the U.S. border is not open to illegal migration and individuals who place their fates into the hands of coyotes face significant risks during the journey along with prosecution and removal from the country once caught.”
The New Orleans Sector’s joint enforcement posture reduces the ability of criminal organizations to exploit transportation routes within the area and degrades their ability to conduct criminal acts.
The New Orleans Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. Border Patrol asks that “if you see something, say something” by reporting suspicious activity, call the sector’s toll-free telephone number at 1-866-50-PROTECT (1-866-507-7683).