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  4. Child Smuggler Arrested at Hidalgo International Bridge

Child Smuggler Arrested at Hidalgo International Bridge

Release Date
Thu, 05/16/2019

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a woman from McAllen, Texas in connection with a failed child smuggling attempt involving a five-year-old boy.

“CBP Field Operations takes smuggling of persons very seriously,” said Port Director Sylvia Briones, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “People must realize that there are consequences for this type of illicit activity, especially when they involve children.”

Signage indicating the Hidalgo Port of Entry
Signage viewed upon arrival at Hidalgo
International Bridge.

On May 15, 2019 a 26-year-old female United States citizen arrived at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge pedestrian walkway with a boy she claimed as her U.S. citizen child. The adult woman presented a State of Texas issued identification card for herself along with a U.S. birth certificate for both her and the young boy. A CBP officer referred them to secondary for further inspection and it was there that officers discovered that there was no relationship between the two travelers. Officers further determined that the document presented for the child was not his and the he was in fact a citizen of Mexico without valid documents to legally enter or reside in the United States.

CBP OFO arrested the woman and presented her before a U.S. federal magistrate for alleged violation of U.S. immigration law.

For more information on the immigration inspection process visit this link on CBP.gov, Immigration Inspection Program.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021