A Texas man accused of smuggling thousands of migrants into the U.S. has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Concretely, Enil Edil Mejia Zuniga was sentenced for his role in a smuggling ring that spanned three continents.
Also known as "Chino," Mejia Zuniga worked with a Pakistani smuggler based in Brazil who brought in people from South America and Central and South Asia. They were then taken to Mexico and smuggled into the U.S: through Eagle Pass, Texas.
Clients paid between $6,500 and $12,000 each, and Mejia Zuniga got some $3,000 for every person who made it across the border and $3,000 more for those who got to San Antonio, according to federal officials.
The ring also was accused of supervising homes in Monterrey and Piedras Negras, in Mexico, where migrants were kept while waiting to be smuggled.
Mejia Zuniga entered a plea agreement in 2023 after being confronted with witness testimonies, wire transfer records, client ledgers and photos.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons. said that "in an effort to satisfy his greed, Mejia Zuniga facilitated the illegal movement of thousands of Middle Easterners into the United States."
"His actions put our national security at risk. However, thanks to our many federal law enforcement partners, Mejia-Zuniga will no longer be allowed to enrich himself to the detriment of this country," Simmons added.
The sentence comes as the amount of unlawful border crossings reached a historical monthly low in June, with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recording just over 6,000 apprehensions.
CBS News highlighted that the figure is the lowest monthly tally ever reported. The previous record had taken place in March, with some 7,200 arrests. A little over 9,500 migrants were arrested in May.
The administration recorded some 38,000 apprehensions since February 1, a more than 90% decrease compared the almost 600,000 that took place during the same period last year under the Biden administration.
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