Posted: Friday, October 28, 2016 2:54 am | Updated: 1:30 pm, Fri Oct 28, 2016.
By César G. Rodriguez
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Two sisters are facing federal charges following the discovery of 20 immigrants who had entered the country illegally in their home, according to records filed in a Laredo federal court.

A criminal complaint filed Thursday charged Ana Delia Leal and Ana Vianey Hipolito-Mauleon with harboring undocumented immigrants.

Records state the immigrants were from Guatemala and Mexico.

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Investigations received information that several immigrants were being harbored at a home in the 3100 block of Gustavus Street.

Special agents, task force officers, U.S. Border Patrol agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the house.

When a man opened the door, authorities said they saw several people hiding behind a couch.

A search of the house yielded 20 immigrants suspected of entering the country illegally, records state.

Court documents add that Hipolito-Mauleon was also inside the home with her two children. Hipolito-Mauleon allegedly agreed to be interviewed.

She stated that her sister, Leal, had made arrangements to harbor immigrants for monetary gain.

Immigrants held as witnesses stated that Hipolito-Mauleon and Leal were the caretakers of the house.

They allegedly either gave the immigrants food, instructions or provided transportation for them, according to court documents.

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