Two 14-year-olds are facing state human-smuggling charges after Texas troopers arrested them in Hidalgo County on Thursday, according to officials. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said the teens were working as smuggling guides, the latest example of very young suspects being swept into smuggling operations in the Rio Grande Valley. Federal prosecutors did not take the case because of the teens' age, so DPS turned to state law instead.
In a post from TxDPS - South Texas Region, the agency said troopers "arrested two 14-year-old smuggling guides in Hidalgo County" and noted that "because they couldn’t be federally prosecuted due to their age, both were charged by Texas DPS with smuggling of persons under Texas law." The short update did not name the teens or offer other identifying information.
What the State Charge Covers
Under Texas law, smuggling of persons falls under Penal Code Section 20.05 and is generally treated as a felony. Penalties are heightened when the people being smuggled are minors or when the conduct creates a substantial likelihood of serious bodily injury or death. A basic smuggling charge is usually a third-degree felony, but prosecutors can seek second- or first-degree felony enhancements in more serious cases, which carry significantly longer potential prison terms. That framework helps explain why state authorities frequently take the lead on smuggling cases in border counties. Texas Penal Code §20.05
Teens and Smuggling in the Valley
Advocates and investigators have repeatedly documented teenagers showing up as drivers or guides in smuggling runs across South Texas, sometimes ending in high-speed chases or violent crashes. Human Rights Watch has identified multiple youths between 14 and 17 who were charged under Texas smuggling statutes, and local outlets have tracked a series of teen arrests and vehicle pursuits in the Rio Grande Valley over the past few years. Human Rights Watch and KRGV have reported on those cases.
What Officials Have Not Said
The DPS post did not indicate how troopers identified the 14-year-olds, where the arrests took place within Hidalgo County, or where the teens were taken afterward. Officials have also not publicly clarified whether Hidalgo County prosecutors will move forward with formal juvenile complaints, what specific degree of felony is being alleged, or what penalties might ultimately be on the table.
How This Fits into the Bigger Picture
The case unfolds against the backdrop of Operation Lone Star, the state’s broad border enforcement initiative that DPS describes as a sustained campaign targeting human smuggling and related crimes across South Texas. As part of that effort, the agency regularly shares short summaries, clips and arrest announcements from its border operations, with this latest arrest of two 14-year-olds now added to that running tally. Operation Lone Star
