New York Cracks Down On Illegal Transport Of Aliens

The immigration crisis in the United States is eliciting a major response from authorities across the nation, and assisting aliens in any way may now lead to serious legal consequences in New York. Two recent cases show that authorities are taking active measures to stop not only the movement of aliens across the state, but also those who assist these movements. These two cases also help defendants learn what kind of consequences they may face if they are caught engaging in these activities.

Man Gets Six Months for Picking Up Illegal Alien in New York 

On September 28th of 2023, it was reported that a man had been sentenced to time served for driving from Georgia to New York in order to pick up an illegal alien. The plan was to drive the alien further south into the country. He had spent six months in jail at the time of his sentencing. This individual admitted that the illegal alien in question had crossed into the United States illegally from Canada. After picking up the alien, the man spent a night with them in a motel. At some point the next day, they were apprehended by Border Patrol and arrested.

This case highlights the fact that illegal border crossings from Canada are becoming much more common. Some might assume that since New York is a northern state, it has no involvement with illegal Mexican migrants. But that just isn’t the case. As many reports have shown, Mexican migrants are now much more likely to attempt a northern crossing from Canada – as the northern border is much less protected than the southern border.

Guatemalan Citizen Gets Six Months for Attempted Transport of an Alien 

On September 26th of 2023, it was reported that a Guatemalan citizen had been sentenced to time served for attempted transport of an illegal alien. At the time of his sentencing, he had spent about six months in prison. In his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he had driven to New York in order to pick up an illegal Mexican migrant who was crossing into the United States from Canada. This was apparently part of a business arrangement, as the defendant said that he expected payment for this endeavor. At some point, both the migrant and the Guatemalan man were apprehended by the Border Patrol.

This story is very similar to the first case, and it shows that there is a notable influx of migrants coming into the State of New York from Canada. This also shows that merely meeting a migrant on the border is enough to result in a charge of attempted transport of an illegal alien. You do not even need to drive a set distance with a migrant in your vehicle in order to face this charge.

Where Can I Find a Qualified, Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in New York? 

If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney in New York, look no further than Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law. Over the years, we have helped numerous defendants across the Empire State. Transport of an Alien is a serious offense, and those who are caught engaging in these activities can expect legitimate consequences. That being said, you can fight for your rights effectively with an efficient defense strategy. Book your consultation today to get started.

Sources:

justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/georgia-man-sentenced-transport-alien

justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/guatemalan-citizen-sentenced-attempted-transport-alien