ICE HSI led investigation results in the sentencing of a Mexican national for transporting an unaccompanied minor from Mexico
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in prison for illegally transporting an unaccompanied child from Mexico.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents assigned to Del Rio and San Antonio investigated the case with the assistance of the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
Victor Manuel Monsivais, 67, was sentenced March 1 in federal court to 33 months in federal prison. Monsivais was found guilty by a jury trial Aug. 19, 2021.
“This sentence serves as an appropriate punishment for Monsivais’ role in the smuggling event. Without law enforcement intervention he would have handed over the child to a stranger, potentially exposing the child to significant danger,” said Shane Folden, Special Agent in Charge, HSI San Antonio. “This case is a glaring reminder that human smugglers are driven by greed and have no regard for the health and well-being of their human cargo. HSI is committed to aggressively targeting smuggling organizations and human smugglers who continually victimize people for profit.”
“Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of our office and that of our valued partners as we continue to work together to vigorously enforce federal law and protect our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “I am especially thankful for the determined efforts that went into rescuing the minor child in this case.”
According to court documents, on July 30, 2019, Monsivais was apprehended at 1 a.m. at a local grocery store parking lot south of San Antonio transporting an unaccompanied 8-year-old child from Mexico.
Monsivais intended to give the child back to another person involved in smuggling the child from Mexico into the United States. ICE HSI and officers from SAPD were waiting for Monsivais at the parking lot based on investigative intelligence about the intended exchange.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Banister and Holly Pavlinski, Western District of Texas, prosecuted the case.
HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
HSI encourages you to report suspected human smuggling activity, please call 1-866-348-2423. It could save a life. For up-to-date information related to human smuggling in south Texas, follow HSI on twitter @HSI_SanAntonio.
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