Thread: TX: CBP stops undocumented immigrant smuggling attempt

CBP stops undocumented immigrant smuggling attempt
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August 05, 2009 9:18 PM

A Brownsville woman was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at an international bridge when she attempted to smuggle another woman with altered immigration documents, court records show.

Rita Carranza de Fernandez was charged with knowingly inducing an undocumented alien to enter the United States, said a criminal complaint filed by CBP. Her age was not available Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday morning, Carranza went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Morgan, who ordered she be held without bond by the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention hearing set for Aug. 6.

The arrest took place Saturday afternoon at Veterans International Bridge, when Carranza and another woman drove to an inspection booth and were referred to a secondary inspection area after presenting an altered laser visa border crossing card, the CBP said. The crossing card identified the second woman as a Mexican national with a travel permit.

After a brief investigation, CBP Field Operations officers determined the second woman was indeed a Mexican national but had no legal status to enter the country, court records show.

Once in custody, the undocumented immigrant provided CBP with a sworn statement, stating that she paid Carranza $4,500 for the documents and transporting her to Houston, the CBP said. The woman was being held as a material witness, court records show.

www.brownsvilleherald.com

What is the punishment for her crime?

Thank You CBP!