Texas – A Texas man has been charged with attempting to smuggle more than 100 undocumented immigrants into the U.S. in a locked tractor-trailer.
Juan Manuel Aguirre, 49, from Laredo, Texas, faces three counts of conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien within the U.S. and transporting undocumented immigrants for financial gain, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
On December 2, Aguirre was seen loading a large group of migrants into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Law enforcement later stopped the truck hauling the trailer and discovered 101 undocumented individuals, including 12 unaccompanied minors, packed inside.
Two migrants in the trailer reported struggling to breathe and feared for their lives due to the unsafe conditions.
Aguirre could face up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $750,000 if convicted on all charges.
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The number of individuals convicted for alien smuggling has increased under the Biden administration, with 4,731 cases reported in fiscal year 2023, according to U.S. Sentencing Commission data. Texas, with its vast southern border, accounts for over 60% of the U.S.-Mexico border, and the state remains a hotspot for human smuggling cases. In 2023, there were 64,124 alien smuggling offense cases, with about 10% involving unaccompanied minors.
The surge in smuggling activity has raised concerns in Texas, particularly in Laredo, where there has been an uptick in high-risk pursuits and dangerous incidents.
Earlier this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched a billboard campaign in Mexico and Central America to warn would-be migrants about the risks of crossing the U.S. border illegally. The ads aim to educate potential immigrants about the dangers of human trafficking and the harsh consequences of attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully. “Do not risk a dangerous trip just to be arrested and deported,” Abbott warned.
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