TUCSON – A teenage U.S. citizen, previously arrested for human smuggling, was arrested again, this time for smuggling three illegal aliens near Nogales on Monday. It was the 19-year-old Phoenix woman’s second smuggling-related arrest in seven months.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agents from the Tucson Sector conducted a vehicle stop after seeing three men emerge from brush along Interstate 19 and enter a white Mercedes sedan. The men tried to escape from agents, but were apprehended after a short foot chase.
During questioning, according to CBP, agents determined the teen was smuggling three Mexican national men, ages 21, 30, and 31, all illegally present in the United States.
Records checks showed that the teen had been incarcerated seven months ago for 60 days following a human smuggling conviction.
The teen will be held in custody under human smuggling charges while the illegal aliens will be processed for immigration violations.
According to CBP, “criminal smuggling organizations recruit people across all demographics, including youth.” As a result, Border Patrol offers Community outreach programs like Tucson Sector’s Together Educating and Mentoring Kids program, also known as “T.E.A.M. Kids,” educates children and parents about the dangers of associating with criminal groups.