Mexican national pleads guilty to illegally using social security number to obtain employment

The United States Justice Department, Eastern District of Louisiana announced on Thursday a Mexican national pled guilty and was sentenced for illegally using a social security number that was not his to obtain employment.

According to a press release Gregorio Galaviz-Zamora, age 60, a native of Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.

Court document show he submitted a fraudulent Form I-9 application and used a fraudulent social security card in the name of another person (emphasis mine):

"According to court documents, prior to August 14, 2019, Galaviz-Zamora submitted a fraudulent Form I-9 application in order to obtain employment with a construction company. He attested on the form that he was someone else. He used a fraudulent Social Security card in the name of the other person which also contained that person’s actual Social Security number as verification. In order to finalize employment with that company, he was required to take a safety course at another location on August 14, 2019. He once again provided the fraudulent Social Security card and number as proof of his identity, but an employee suspected the card was fraudulent and alerted Customs and Border Protection. Subsequent record checks confirmed his real identity."

On 9/11 anniversary, Feds announce conviction, apprehension involving smuggling of illegal Chinese nationals

President Trump was right to start the battle against human trafficking almost immediately upon assuming office. He signed an executive order in February 2017 targeting transnational criminal organizations that threaten the safety & sovereignty of the United States and American citizens.

And his administration was right just a month earlier when news broke his administration declared China among the worst human trafficking offenders. 

Yesterday, on the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the 7th anniversary of the Benghazi attacks, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas and Customs & Border Protection separately announced a conviction and an apprehension involving the smuggling of illegal Chinese nationals into the country.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a 49-year-old legal permanent resident from Donna for knowingly and intentionally conspiring to unlawfully transporting undocumented illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before convicting Federico Espinosa-Flores following a two-day trial. 

During trial the jury heard that on Dec. 21, 2018, authorities arrested Federico Espinosa-Flores at the Border Patrol Checkpoint in Sarita. 

At approximately 7:40 A.M., Espinosa-Flores drove a white Ford cargo van disguised as an adult daycare business and entered the primary inspection lane. At that time, authorities noticed him exhibiting signs of nervousness, such as avoiding eye contact and having trembling hands. Espinosa-Flores consented to a search of which resulted in the discovery of 10 undocumented aliens in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Six were Chinese nationals.."

MARFA, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents arrest 10 citizens of China illegally present in United States.  

"Big Bend Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Mathew J Roggow said, “The communities in Big Bend Sector are home to some of the finest people I have come to know.  I am extremely proud of our agents commitment to keeping them safe.  Today was a prime example of the unity of effort that we have with our fellow state and local law enforcement agencies.  These arrest would not have been possible without the assistance of the Marfa Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Game Wardens, and the diligent efforts of the Presidio and Brewster County Sheriff’s Office."

Agents apprehend illegal aliens.

On September 10, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Marfa Border Patrol Station and Big Bend Sector responded to a call for assistance from a Presidio County Sheriff’s Office Deputy (PCSO) attempting to conduct a vehicle stop on a white GMC pickup truck.  The vehicle failed to yield to the PCSO deputy.  Border Patrol Agents along with other state and local partners responded to assist in searching for the vehicle.  During a search for the vehicle, agents located a subject near the Marfa cemetery. 

Shortly after locating the subject near the cemetery, agents located foot sign and followed it to an abandoned shack located at the Marfa cemetery.  Agents found ten subjects, all citizens of China illegally present in the United States, hiding in the shack.  The subjects were arrested and taken to the Marfa Border Patrol Station for processing."

Mexican men claiming to be children caught by Customs and Border Protection

A pregnant woman and two men falsely claiming to be children were among the 13 foreign nationals caught and detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in separate incidents this past week, announced CBP.

According to a news release found here on Tuesday September 3, one of two subjects apprehended in Yuma, AZ initially claimed to be a 17-year-old Guatemalan national, but agents discovered he was actually a 24-year-old Mexican national.

The second subject initially claimed to be a 17-year-old Guatemalan national, but agents discovered he was actually a 24-year-old Mexican national.

The man reported to agents a human smuggler told him to make the fraudulent claim. He was advised representing himself as an unaccompanied child from Guatemala would ensure his release into the United Stated by law enforcement. Both subjects were processed for immigration violations."

On Wednesday September 4 CBP agents located two illegal aliens, one of whom claimed to be 17 years old but later revealed to be 24 years old. 

"Yuma Station agents located two subjects west of Avenue B and near County 24th Street. One subject was unconscious and apparently suffering from heat exhaustion. The second subject, also suffering from heat exhaustion, initially claimed to be a 17-year-old juvenile, but through an investigation was determined to be a 24-year-old Mexican national. They were transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by ambulance and treated before released to agents. Both subjects were processed for immigration violations."

Here's the kicker:

"The two 24-year-old men from Mexico in the above incidents were later found to be brothers who were traveling separately.  

Background check failed to prevent deaths of three Chinese migrants

On September 3rd the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arraignment in federal court of a U.S. citizen from El Paso, Texas, now residing in Tijuana, Mexico in connection with the deaths of three Chinese migrants, including a mother and her 15-year-old son, who were found in the trunk of Valera’s BMW two days after he crossed into the United States through the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the same car.

As you read the press release and news summary, consider the requirements necessary for Valera's approval for entry through the SENTRI program: a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California:

SAN DIEGO – Neil Edwin Valera, a U.S. citizen who resides in Tijuana, was arraigned in federal court today in connection with the deaths of three Chinese migrants, including a mother and her 15-year-old son, who were found in the trunk of Valera’s BMW two days after he crossed into the United States through the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the same car.

Valera, a truck driver from El Paso, Texas, was taken into custody at the downtown bus station on Saturday. He was charged via complaint with Encouraging Aliens to Enter Resulting in Death and Bringing in Aliens without Presentation for Financial Gain.

On August 11, 2019, at 4:54 p.m., San Diego police received an emergency 911 call from a person reporting a foul odor and blood dripping from a suspicious vehicle with Texas license plates parked near the 2100 block of Jaime Avenue in San Diego.

San Diego police officers discovered a 1999 silver BMW with a Texas license plate. The officers lifted the trunk and found what initially appeared to be two deceased Asian females. Homicide detectives found an additional victim, an Asian male, pressed up against the rear wall of the trunk. A witness said the car was first noticed two days earlier and no one was seen coming or going.

Video recordings show the same car crossing into the United States from Mexico on August 9, 2019, at the San Ysidro port of entry at 3:14 p.m. According to the complaint, the driver was Valera, the registered owner of the vehicle. Valera used his Sentri card to enter into the U.S. After that day, Valera only crossed into the United States on foot, through pedestrian lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry...

NOTE: You may not be eligible for participation in the SENTRI program if you:

• Provide false or incomplete information on the application;

• Have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges or outstanding warrants (to include driving under the influence);

• Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country;

• Are the subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state or local law enforcement agency;

• Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation; or

• Cannot satisfy CBP of your low risk status.

Read the rest here.

Customs and Border Protection and their busy Labor Day weekend supporting the sovereignty of the United States

U.S. Customs and Border Protection had a busy Labor Day weekend supporting the sovereignty of the United States, including the arrest and detention of individuals alleged to have smuggled illegal aliens, a suspect in a felony kidnapping case, attempted to enter under false pretenses or had outstanding arrest warrants.

• On September 3rd in Carrizo Springs, Texas U.S. Border Patrol agents announced the arrest of a US citizen and a legally admitted permanent resident for attempting to smuggle two illegal aliens in the truck of their vehicle on August 29. The driver and passenger were arrested under 8 USC 1324 alien smuggling which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

• On September 3rd in Presido, Texas U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents announced the apprehension of a woman who was sought in Harlingen on three counts of felony kidnapping after Child Protective Services filed a kidnapping report. CBP officers took her into custody without incident and turned her over to Presidio Police Department officers. CPS officials took custody of the children.

• On September 3rd in Hidalgo, Texas officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge detected three individuals from Mexico attempting to enter the United States illegally using fraudulent entry documents.

• And on August 30th in Laredo, Texas CBP announced their collaboration with Mexican authorities in the detection and apprehension of an individual with outstanding warrants for homicide, assault, and DUI out of the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas County Sheriffs Office.