DOJ Charges 14 in Major Human Smuggling Case
The Justice Department has charged 14 people and arrested eight in connection with a large-scale human smuggling operation that trafficked hundreds of undocumented migrants, including minors, from Mexico into the U.S. through New Mexico and South Texas.
The indictment alleges the group used stash houses, evaded law enforcement, and caused at least one migrant death due to heat exposure. Officials described the network as a serious threat to national security and public safety.
Each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The case follows Trump-era immigration policy changes that reversed most Biden-era border measures.
