Mother of three arrested at Calexico Port of Entry for human smuggling

A woman was arrested by the United States Customs and Border Protection at the Calexico Port of Entry on May 13 for attempting to smuggle two Mexican citizens inside the floor storage of her minivan.

The 26-year-old, a United States citizen and a resident of Mexicali, Baja Mexico was traveling with her three children as she entered the downtown port driving a 2008 Dodge Caravan when an officer detected inconsistencies with the woman’s story. Officers say they performed a cursory inspection of the minivan where officers discovered two adults laying inside a storage compartment in the floor.

Officers say they immediately took the driver into custody and escorted the minor children to a safe area away from the scene.

According to officers, both individuals were extracted from the compartment and taken into custody for a medical evaluation and further processing. Officers confirmed that a 23-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were both Mexican citizens that had no legal ability to enter the U.S.

Officers say the three children were released to the custody of a family member.