Two American Citizens Arrested in Child Smuggling Attempt – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
3:46 PM – Monday, April 14, 2025
On Tuesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended two American citizens who were allegedly trying to smuggle two unaccompanied minors into the United States.
Advertisement
The two female suspects, whose names have not been disclosed, were taken into custody after entering the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint near Westmorland, California.
“The vehicle was driven by a woman accompanied by another female in the front passenger seat. Additionally, two girls were found asleep in the back seat,” stated the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a press release.
The agency further explained that the driver initially claimed to be traveling from Arizona to California but later confessed to having entered the U.S. from Mexico through the San Luis Port of Entry. Upon noticing inconsistencies in her story, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the checkpoint referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection.
During the inspection, agents quickly discovered that the children’s names and photographs didn’t match their documents.
“Agents determined that the children were not related to either the driver or the passenger, and the driver was unfamiliar with the children’s mother. After further questioning, agents realized that the two girls, aged 10 and 12, were unaccompanied minors from Mexico,” the release indicated.
Both women are now facing charges under “8 USC 1324 Alien Smuggling.” The vehicle used for smuggling has been confiscated as evidence.
Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino of the El Centro Sector addressed the media, stressing that such incidents are often the beginning of child trafficking issues.
“It’s almost unbearable to contemplate the terrible crimes that await children who are not with their parents. The border environment has been plagued by this type of activity in recent years, but the focus has shifted, and serious penalties await those smugglers who endanger children,” Bovino remarked.
The identities of the two women have not been disclosed to the media.
Stay updated! Get breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here: https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisements below