Cuban asylum seeker nabbed smuggling two women

TUCSON (CMC):

The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agency on Thursday said a Cuban asylum seeker has been apprehended for smuggling two women on Easter Sunday.

The Cuban national was arrested by agents patrolling Ajo Highway near Three Points in Tucson, Arizona.

“Agents assigned to the Tucson Station discovered the smuggling attempt after spotting a Hyundai Accent leave an area commonly used by human smugglers,” CBP said. “While conducting an immigration inspection vehicle stop, they learned the passengers, a 29-year-old Mexican woman and a 30-year-old Uzbekistani woman, were in the country illegally.

“Agents also found the driver, a 33-year-old Cuban national, did not have legal documents for being in the United States,” it added. “They arrested all three individuals and seized the sedan.”

CBP said subsequent records checks at the Tucson Station revealed that CBP agents had arrested the driver near Brownsville, Texas in 2023.

“At that time, he claimed to fear persecution in his home country,” it said. “He was released pending an immigration hearing.”

CBP said records checks also revealed that the Mexican woman had been removed from the US more than once and was prosecuted for immigration violations in October 2024.

Both women will be processed for removal proceedings, while the driver faces prosecution for human smuggling charges, CBP said.

If convicted, it said the Cuban national could face US federal incarceration and subsequent deportation from the country, as well as a lifetime ban from the US.