Brade
A Guatemalan national residing in the U.S. illegally has been indicted for his alleged involvement in smuggling a 14-year-old girl into the country. JUAN TIUL XI, 26, was formally charged on Thursday for allegedly coercing the minor into illegally entering the U.S. and submitting a fraudulent sponsorship application to gain custody of her, according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) statement.
Attorney General PAM BONDI emphasized the role of prior border policies in fostering an environment conducive to human trafficking. “We are committed to protecting children from the scourge of human trafficking and will not rest until we deliver justice for those who suffered during the border crisis,” Bondi stated.
TIUL XI reportedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 under the Biden administration. The DOJ alleges that he encouraged the teenager to falsely claim she was his sister. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), under the Department of Health and Human Services, subsequently relied on these false statements to release the minor into his custody on September 5, 2023.
The DOJ has charged TIUL XI with one count of encouraging or inducing illegal entry for financial gain, one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the illegal entry charge, 5 years for the false statement, and 2 years for identity theft.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director TODD LYONS underscored the agency’s dedication to accountability. “This case is a testament to ICE’s commitment to hold predators accountable for the harm they inflict on children,” Lyons said.
ORR Acting Director ANGIE M. SALAZAR highlighted the office’s enhanced vetting processes, which now prioritize child welfare. “We hope that our commitment is evident by our collaboration with law enforcement to right previous wrongs and help bring these crimes to light,” Salazar stated in the DOJ press release.
The indictment is part of the DOJ’s Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at addressing ongoing threats and risks to national security.
[Source: Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov)
