Feds nab more Guatemalan human smugglers, this time in Idaho
Federal agents continue to arrest Guatemalans involved in human smuggling and trafficking operations, including of children, who are also involved in violating federal labor laws.
The latest arrest was of Guatemalan national Brayan Adiel Gramajo Reyes, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello, Idaho, on multiple smuggling and labor law violations. They include “two counts of encouraging illegal entry of aliens to enter the United States, eight counts of using false statements for employment verification by attesting that Social Security numbers were genuine and that the employees were authorized to work in the United States, knowing that was false, and one count of unlawful employment of aliens.”
The indictment was returned after a multi-agency investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations special agents in Idaho.
According to the HSI investigation, Gramajo persuaded two “unaccompanied alien children” (UACs) to be smuggled to the U.S. from Guatemala only to subject them into a forced labor situation involving working long hours of physical labor.
“Rescuing unaccompanied children who are tragically exploited and trafficked is a top HSI priority,” HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller said. “Our investigation underscores HSI’s resolve to enforce our U.S. law and safeguard every child. Additionally, worksite enforcement is central to protecting our communities – targeting illegal employment networks, rescuing victims and stopping fraudulent business practices that harm real Americans.”
Under the Biden administration, an estimated 450,000 UACs were smuggled into the country. The Trump administration claims to have located more than 132,000 of them.
The Idaho arrest comes after other Guatemalans were arrested in Arizona and California, charged with smuggling roughly 20,000 Guatemalans into the U.S. over a period of five years, The Center Square reported. It remains unclear how many of the 20,000 were apprehended or rescued from forced labor or sex trafficking schemes.
The latest arrest was of Guatemalan national Brayan Adiel Gramajo Reyes, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello, Idaho, on multiple smuggling and labor law violations. They include “two counts of encouraging illegal entry of aliens to enter the United States, eight counts of using false statements for employment verification by attesting that Social Security numbers were genuine and that the employees were authorized to work in the United States, knowing that was false, and one count of unlawful employment of aliens.”
The indictment was returned after a multi-agency investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations special agents in Idaho.
According to the HSI investigation, Gramajo persuaded two “unaccompanied alien children” (UACs) to be smuggled to the U.S. from Guatemala only to subject them into a forced labor situation involving working long hours of physical labor.
“Rescuing unaccompanied children who are tragically exploited and trafficked is a top HSI priority,” HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller said. “Our investigation underscores HSI’s resolve to enforce our U.S. law and safeguard every child. Additionally, worksite enforcement is central to protecting our communities – targeting illegal employment networks, rescuing victims and stopping fraudulent business practices that harm real Americans.”
Under the Biden administration, an estimated 450,000 UACs were smuggled into the country. The Trump administration claims to have located more than 132,000 of them.
The Idaho arrest comes after other Guatemalans were arrested in Arizona and California, charged with smuggling roughly 20,000 Guatemalans into the U.S. over a period of five years, The Center Square reported. It remains unclear how many of the 20,000 were apprehended or rescued from forced labor or sex trafficking schemes.
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