ARAB
MAN SMUGGLED SIX YEMENIS ACROSS U.S./MEXICO BORDER, 8/3/18.
U.S. Department of Justice press release…A Jordanian national residing in
Monterrey, Mexico was arrested Saturday on arrival at JFK International Airport
to face a criminal complaint issued in the Western District of Texas for his
role in a scheme to smuggle special interest aliens from Mexico into the United
States.
Assistant
Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal
Division, U.S. Attorney John F. Bash of the Western District of Texas and
Special Agent in Charge Shane M. Folden of U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio
made the announcement.
On
May 29, an arrest warrant was issued pursuant to a criminal complaint, which
alleges that in the later half of 2017, Moayad Heider Mohammad Aldairi, 31, conspired
with others to smuggle
six Yemeni nationals across the Texas border and into the United States in
exchange for a fee.
Aldairi
was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go in the Eastern
District of New York for his initial appearance. At the hearing, Judge Go
ordered that Aldairi be held pending transfer to the Western District of Texas
for further criminal proceedings.
“Aldairi
allegedly smuggled six Yemeni citizens across the Mexican border and into the
United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Alien smuggling
puts our national security at risk, and the Criminal Division is dedicated to
enforcing our immigration laws and disrupting the flow of illegal aliens into
the United States.”
“The
arrest of Aldairi showcases HSI’s unique ability to coordinate investigative
efforts across international boundaries with multiple countries and different
agencies throughout the U.S. Government,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge
Folden. “Attacking the leader/organizers of illicit international pathways for
aliens from certain countries of interest will always be a priority of HSI.”
This
case is being investigated by HSI Eagle Pass, with assistance from HSI New
York, HSI Jordan and the U.S. Embassy of Jordan. The investigation is being
conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT)
program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present
particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave
humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and
prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other
U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
This
case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney James Hepburn of the Criminal
Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S.
Attorney Matthew Watters of the Western District of Texas.
The
charges contained in the complaint are merely allegations and all defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court
of law.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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