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Published on January 19, 2025
Mexican National Extradited to U.S. to Face Charges in International Human Smuggling OperationSource: Google Street View

A Mexican national has been extradited to the United States to face charges in connection with an international human smuggling operation, following close coordination between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies. Monica Hernandez-Palma, 32, known as "Moni" was transferred to U.S. custody yesterday and appeared in court today in the Western District of Texas, where the charges against her were unveiled, the Department of Justice reported.

Allegedly active from November 2020 through September 2023 Hernandez-Palma is accused of conspiring to illicitly bring migrants into the United States for financial gain; if found guilty, she faces up to 10 years imprisonment per count, including one count of conspiracy to bring a migrant at a non-designated port of entry and three counts of unauthorized migrant smuggling for commercial advantage—a federal judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors, will determine her sentence. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza, and HSI San Antonio's Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee announced the extradition and charges, marking a significant step in the case's progression.

The multi-agency effort behind Hernandez-Palma's arrest involved the Office of the Assistant Special Agent in Charge HSI Del Rio with further assistance from U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector, the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center. Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Pavlinski are the prosecutors for the Western District of Texas where a tight-knit collaboration signifies the depth of response to human trafficking and smuggling threats.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs played a pivotal role in securing the arrest and extradition, acknowledging the critical help from Mexican law enforcement partners in their statement. The operation is part of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland's Joint Task Force Alpha, an initiative aimed at disassembling human smuggling networks that started in June 2021 and has since including Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling across the region, the task force includes members from several U.S. Attorney’s Offices backed by various Justice Department divisions.

Furthermore, the successful extradition of Hernandez-Palma reinforces the mission of the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force program which focuses on dismantling human smuggling groups potentially posing national security or public safety risks, this Justice Department and HSI collaboration marshals dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial efforts while coordinating both domestically and abroad. While the indictment against Hernandez-Palma is only an allegation, and the defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty, this case underscores the commitment of U.S. authorities to address crimes that challenge the nation's borders and social fabric.