“We are responsible for determining admissibility for everyone coming into the country through the ports of entry,” said Port Director James Tong, “and when we see a case involving an attempt to smuggle children in, we are especially concerned for their welfare. We want to see those responsible held accountable, so we will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek prosecution for those that would put these children at risk.”

The incident began at around 6 p.m. Wednesday, when a CBP officer performing routine screening questioned a 48-year-old woman from Nogales, Sonora about a group of children in her vehicle. After looking at their documents and asking questions, the officer became suspicious of the situation and referred the group in for further inspection.

During the subsequent inspection of the documents and questioning of everyone, officers discovered that the documents presented for the children did not belong to them and they were not admissible into the United States.

After several unsuccessful attempts by CBP to contact family members, the children, ranging in age from 5-years-old to 13-years-old, were turned over to the Mexican Consulate in Nogales for safe return to Mexico.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of alien smuggling and the case referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to be reviewed for possible federal charges.

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.
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SOURCE: CBP