Laredo, Texas – A U.S. citizen has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to smuggle a migrant through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. Luz Del Carmen Enriquez Abarca pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport a migrant within the United States on Aug. 10, leading to her sentencing by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo on Nov. 14.

The case unfolded on June 10 when Enriquez Abarca arrived at the international bridge as a bus passenger with a minor whom she claimed was her nephew. She presented a U.S. passport and a Texas birth certificate for the minor, but inconsistencies during the investigation led to both being referred to secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

During secondary inspection, Enriquez Abarca admitted that the child was not her nephew but a migrant from Mexico. She further revealed that she had been paid $1,000 to smuggle the minor into the United States, and that this was the second time she had engaged in such activity. According to court documents, the birth certificate she presented belonged to her real nephew. She also confessed to flying to Toluca to pick up the minor.

Enriquez Abarca’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences individuals face for involvement in human smuggling. The case also highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and border security agencies to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking.

In conclusion, Luz Del Carmen Enriquez Abarca, a U.S. citizen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to smuggle a migrant through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. This case underscores the continued commitment of authorities to combat human smuggling and illegal immigration.