28 Arrested for Smuggling Migrants in Rubber Boats
Spanish National Police dismantled an organized criminal group smuggling migrants from Morocco to the Canary Islands. Keep Reading
CBP Officers Apprehend 48 Making Illegal Entry at Rail Crossings
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the El Paso port of entry apprehended 48 illegal aliens between June 18 and June 20. All were attempting to enter the U.S. illegally as railcar stowaways. Keep Reading
Coronavirus
COVID-19’s Impact on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling
COVID-19, and measures being taken by countries to control its spread, are impacting crime around the world, including migrant smuggling and human trafficking. Keep Reading
Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Illegal Aliens
On June 8, a South Texas man entered a guilty plea for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the country. Keep Reading
Border Patrol Discovers 58 People Hidden Inside Trailer
The incident occurred during the evening of May 29, when a red commercial tractor hauling a white trailer approached the I-35 checkpoint north of Laredo. A service canine alerted during an immigration inspection of the driver. Keep Reading
34 Arrested During Migrant Smuggling Crackdown Actions
The operation tracked the criminal activity of people smuggling across the continent and was prompted by the tragic discovery of 39 deceased Vietnamese nationals inside a refrigerated truck trailer in the U.K. in October 2019. Keep Reading
Repatriation Flights Ramp Up As Illegal Entry Attempts Increase
From March 20, 2020 to May 14, 2020, CBP observed an increase in Mexican nationals who make repeated attempts to enter the U.S. illegally and bypass public health measures. Keep Reading
Border Patrol Arrests 15 in Maritime Human Smuggling Attempt
U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector arrested 15 people after a small vessel made landfall on one of San Diego’s local beaches on May 18. Keep Reading
Hundreds of Migrants Attempt to Reach U.K. by Boat During Lockdown
At least 227 migrants have been intercepted in two days as they tried to cross the English Channel to reach the U.K. Keep Reading
Border Patrol K9 Finds 90 People Smuggled in Trailer
Border Patrol agents have intercepted a large human smuggling attempt at the Interstate Highway 35 Checkpoint. Keep Reading
Coast Guard Repatriates Illegal Migrants Following Interdictions Near Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic
Five of the interdicted migrants face possible federal prosecution in Puerto Rico. Keep Reading
Increase in Migrant Fatalities Across Americas in 2019
More than 800 people died last year crossing deserts, rivers and remote lands while migrating across the Americas, making 2019 one of deadliest years on record, the UN migration agency announced on January 28. Keep Reading
Border Patrol Agents Discover 37 People Inside Tractor Trailers
Three failed illegal alien smuggling attempts have lead to the discovery of 37 people inside semi-tractor trailers. Keep Reading
Phoenix Man Sentenced to Prison for Human Smuggling Resulting in Death
A Phoenix man was sentenced January 14, to 80 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for alien smuggling resulting in a death in a probe spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations assisted by the United States Border Patrol. Keep Reading
Human Trafficking Month
Joint Action Dismantles Network That Smuggled People from Middle East to U.K.
The criminal network is suspected of having facilitated the transportation of around 10,000 Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi-Kurdish and Syrian migrants from the French areas of Le Mans and Poitiers to the United Kingdom. Keep Reading
Irregular Migration into European Union at Lowest Level Since 2013
The number of irregular border crossings detected on the European Union’s external borders last year fell to the lowest level since 2013 due to a drop in people reaching European shores via the Central and Western Mediterranean routes. Keep Reading
Honduran National Arrested While Attempting to Arrange Travel for a Minor
Illegal aliens attempt to enter the U.S. by arriving with a child in order to be deemed a family unit and avoid detention. After securing entry into the U.S. they subsequently return the child back to their native countries where they are frequently used again by other adults to enter the U.S. Keep Reading
CBP Enforcement Actions Up 68 Percent in FY 2019
U.S. Customs and Border Protection took more than 1.1 million enforcement actions nationwide in Fiscal Year 2019, a 68 percent increase over the preceding year. The surge in enforcement actions was driven largely by activity on the southwest border. Keep Reading
DHS Working to Improve Estimates on Number of Foreign Individuals Unlawfully Residing in U.S.
The Government Accountability Office recently reviewed DHS’s March 2019 report which listed various approaches that could improve its annual estimates, such as using more precise mortality estimates for foreign-born populations rather than standard demographic tables. Keep Reading
British and French Ministers Meet to Discuss Channel Migrants as Another 66 Attempt the Crossing
Both France and the U.K. agree that tougher action is needed following the concerning rise in incidents over the summer months. More than 1,000 people have attempted to cross the English Channel from France in small boats this year, with at least 270 in August alone. Keep Reading