DACA recipient arrested for alien smuggling
LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- United States Border Patrol Agents working the Interstate-25 immigration checkpoint north of Las Cruces arrested a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient yesterday morning who was attempting to smuggle three male illegal aliens into the United States.
Irania Martinez-Martinez picked up the men at a McDonald's in El Paso and then took them to her house so that they could shower, according to court documents.
In the early hours Monday, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent manning the primary immigration inspection lane encountered a dark Toyota Scion approaching the checkpoint for inspection.
The agent noticed the female driver appeared to be accompanied by three male passengers as it approached the inspection area.
When the driver was questioned as to her citizenship, she replied that she was a U.S. citizen and handed a Texas Identification Card to the agent, but not a valid driver's license.
He then asked the driver where she was traveling to, for which she replied that they were headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Border Patrol Agent then questioned the passengers in the vehicle as to their citizenship, but they provided no response.
That lack of response prompted the Border Patrol Agent to refer the vehicle to secondary inspection for further questioning of everyone in the vehicle.
Once in the secondary area, the three individuals freely admitted not having any immigration documents, and said they entered the country illegally.
Agents were also able to determine the female driver attempted to deceive them by claiming to be a U.S. citizen, when in actuality she's a citizen of Mexico who is currently on DACA status.
All subjects including the driver where transported to a U.S. Border Patrol Station where they were searched and entered in to various immigration and criminal databases.
Using this technology, it was confirmed Irania Martinez-Martinez was not a U.S. citizen, but rather a DACA recipient. The other three subjects were citizens of Mexico.
Irania Martinez-Martinez had applied and received her status in April of 2017. She will be prosecuted on alien-smuggling charges and may no longer be eligible to maintain her DACA status.
