Mexican man sentenced for smuggling over 8 kilos of narcotics in candy box following HSI, federal pa

McALLEN, Texas — A Mexican citizen was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison following his conviction for smuggling cocaine and methamphetamines. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with help from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

On April 13, a federal judge sentenced Nestor Alan Garcia, 28, of Monterrey, Mexico, to serve 144 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard arguments on whether Garcia had a larger role in the conspiracy beyond his participation as a transporter. The court heard that Garcia should receive an appropriate sentence based on the amount and purity of the drugs he and others smuggled into the country. Following a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before returning a guilty verdict Sept. 22, 2022, on all six counts as charged.

Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/mexican-man-sentenced-smuggling-over-8-kilos-narcotics-candy-box-following-hsi

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

San Diego-based human trafficking investigation leads to criminal charges for foreign national

SAN DIEGO — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego-led investigation with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of California resulted in criminal charges against a foreign national accused of human smuggling and sexually exploiting an underage migrant.

Cecilio Jimenez-Bautista, 26, of Mexico, appeared in federal court April 6 to face charges that he sexually abused a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor he and his brother guided from Tijuana, Mexico, into the United States in June 2022. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/san-diego-based-human-trafficking-investigation-leads-criminal-charges-foreign

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Safe Mailing Address and Case Handling Procedures for Certain Prote

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide guidance on mailing address procedures for persons eligible for and recipients of victim-based immigration relief, specifically Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners as well as those who are seeking or currently hold T or U nonimmigrant status (protected persons). This guidance also applies to abused spouses of certain nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization under section 106 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-policy-guidance-on-safe-mailing-address-and-case-handling-procedures-for-certain

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.