U.S. Border Patrol agents arrest two U.S. citizens for smuggling children

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector arrested two United States citizens attempting to smuggle two unaccompanied children illegally in the U.S. The incident occurred on Tuesday near the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. The vehicle was driven by a woman, who was accompanied by another woman. Additionally, two girls were asleep in the rear passenger seats. The driver initially claimed they were traveling from Arizona to California but later admitted to having crossed into the United States from Mexico. After noting discrepancies in the driver’s story, an Indio Station Border Patrol agent assigned to the checkpoint referred the vehicle to secondary inspection. When agents were reviewing the children’s documents, the agents determined the children’s photos and names did not match those on the identification cards. Agents also learned the children were not related to the driver or passenger. Upon questioning, agents discovered the two children, ages 10 and 12, were unaccompanied minors from Mexico. Both the driver and the adult passenger are being charged with Alien Smuggling.