Two U.S. Citizens Arrested Near Indio for Smuggling Unaccompanied Children Across Border

U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector arrested two U.S. citizens Tuesday after discovering they were attempting to smuggle two unaccompanied children across the border.

The incident occurred at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint near Westmorland, when a silver SUV driven by a woman, with another woman in the passenger seat, approached the station. Two young girls were found asleep in the backseat.

The driver initially told agents that they were traveling from Arizona to California but later admitted they had entered the U.S. through the San Luis Port of Entry from Mexico. Due to discrepancies in the story, Border Patrol agents referred the vehicle to secondary inspection.

Upon closer review, agents discovered the identification documents did not match the names or photos of the children in the car. It was also revealed that neither woman was related to the children, nor did they know the children’s mother.

The girls, ages 10 and 12, were determined to be unaccompanied minors from Mexico.

“And this, folks, is how the trafficking of children starts,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino of the El Centro Sector. “It’s almost unbearable to think about what heinous crimes await children who aren’t with their parents. Heavy sentences await smugglers who hurt kids.”

Both women have been charged with violating 8 USC 1324 (Alien Smuggling), and the SUV used in the attempt was seized as evidence.

For more on this and other updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, visit cbp.gov.

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Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection