Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, a 28-year-old from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after a federal jury convicted him on charges including Conspiracy to Transport, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Bringing in Illegal Aliens to the United States for Profit. Notably, these crimes placed human lives in danger, with one victim succumbing to the treacherous journey orchestrated by Dessens-Romero.
Acting as a human smuggling guide, Dessens-Romero led a group of five Mexican nationals on a dangerous trek into the remote Huachuca Mountains in Southern Arizona in February 2021. Among the group were three sisters—aged 23, 20, and the, 17—and a 16-year-old family friend. The journey was hazardous, with limited resources and severe weather conditions, leading to the severe physical distress of the oldest sister. Despite this, Dessens-Romero abandoned her, choosing instead to contact a transnational criminal organization for further instructions, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The 23-year-old sister who was left behind ultimately perished in the mountain range, with her remains being discovered months later by SOS Búsqueda y Rescate, a non-profit dedicated to locating missing migrants. Dessens-Romero continued his smuggling operations until his arrest in Tennessee in June 2021. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino condemned the actions of Dessens-Romero, highlighting the peril such smugglers inflict on migrants seeking better lives.
Dessens-Romero's prosecution was the result of collaborative efforts by various law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas, the Fort Huachuca Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Joint Task Force Alpha, initiated by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021, has been instrumental in targeting dangerous human smuggling operations in Central America and Mexico, focusing on the networks that exploit migrants, and threaten national security.
