Agents arrest child smugglers in Hidalgo


The Monitor
August 9, 2007 - 7:13AM
HIDALGO – Federal authorities arrested at least six people attempting to smuggle children across the border in four separate incidents this weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said.

In each case, U.S. citizens posed as the children’s parents and told customs agents that the minors were also citizens. The tactic is common among illegal immigrants hoping to bring their children to the United States.

The most recent incident occurred Sunday, agents said, when Maria Guadalupe Perez, 32, of Dallas, arrived at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International bridge with a 3-year-old child, the agency said in a written statement.

During an interview, Perez allegedly presented citizenship documents that indicated that the child was a girl. However, agents determined the child was a boy and a Mexican citizen.
Perez was arrested and the child was deported.

Agents also arrested Erika Serna, 19, of Corpus Christi, Juan Arellano, 19, of Corpus Christi, Gustavo Camacho, 40, of Rosenberg, Lidia Camacho, 34, of Rosenberg, and Martha Elene Esparza, 34, of Dallas, this weekend.

In all, seven children, ranging in age from 3 months old to 16 years old, were either released to Mexican family members or handed over to immigration authorities in Reynosa, agents said.


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