163 Human Traffickers Along The U.S.-Mexican Border Arrested In May

ICE reported a month long operation in May that led to the arrest of 163 human smugglers (Coyotes) in five border towns.

By H. Nelson Goodson

June 13,  2014

Washington,  D.C. - On Friday, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investions (HSI) reported that 163 human smugglers (Coyotes) that operated along the U.S.-Mexican border had been arrested in May. A monthlong operation in Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, San Diego and Phoenix led to the arrest of the suspects and has resulted in 60 indictments and 45 convictions.

ICE also confiscated 29 vehicles and more than $35,000 cash. The feds are investigating whether the suspects were connected to more than 48,000 of unaccompanied children smuggled into the U.S. Illegally from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala between last year and May 2014.

In fiscal year 2013, HSI initiated more than 1,700 human smuggling investigations and had 2,718 arrests, 1,854 indictments, 1,802 convictions, and $5,219,924 in asset seizures, according to ICE.