1. Overview of the Smuggling of Child Migrants Presented by Christopher Dombek United States Department of Homeland Security US Customs and Border Protection Office of Alien Smuggling Interdiction (ASI)

2. Overview
The smuggling of child migrants is a problem throughout the western hemisphere and it affects all countries in the region whether as a source, a place of transit, or a destination.
Many families choose to pay someone to escort their children via airplane rather than face a potentially dangerous crossing at the southwest border.
Child migrants traveling as impostors to genuine documents is one of the most common scenarios.
The child migrant is often escorted by unrelated adult who poses as a family member.

3. Child Smuggling Case 1: Minor child escorted by unrelated adult
Traveling as Impostor to Lost/Stolen U.S. Passport
Child was citizen of Dominican Republic

4. Child Smuggling Case 2: Male Nicaraguan escorted child to U.S.
Subject wore airline crew uniform, but did not work for carrier
Male child was impostor to daughter’s passport
Boy was dressed in a pink shirt and coached on answers
Subject escorted 6 other children with same passport

5. Child Smuggling Case 3:
Children from Ecuador joining family in New York
Mostly active in 2008 and 2009 but only 2 cases in 2010
Impostor to U.S. passport or other documents

6. Child Smuggling Case 4:
CBP in Houston identified a Honduran and Spanish national escorting two USC minors that were not his children.
Subject was referred to CBP secondary for further examination.
During examination images and videos of child pornography were discovered on the suspects cellular phone.
The subject was subsequently arrested by ICE and the children were turned over to Child Protective Services

7. Child Smuggling Case 5: Colombian minor denied boarding in Bogotá
Impostor to U.S. passport
Destined to New York-JFK Airport
Traveling alone

8. Child Smuggling Case 6:
Offloaded Salvadorian national attempting to travel to U.S.
Fraudulent U.S. Transportation Letter
Routing usually from Guatemala to U.S. directly or via Mexico

9. Child Smuggling Case 7:
Minor interdicted with counterfeit Lincoln Visa

10. Child Smuggling Case 8:
Chinese nationals transit Latin America with genuine and fraudulent documents en route to the U.S.
Large number of the Chinese are minors
Also seen on Cuban Tourist Cards and passports from Belize, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, U.K., U.S., etc.

11. Child Smuggling Case 9:
Minor in El Salvador denied boarding prior to flight to U.S.
Presented counterfeit U.S. Non-immigrant Visa

12. Conclusion
Child migrant smuggling is an ongoing international problem that affects all countries in this region.
Children face additional vulnerabilities to their safety due to age and lack of financial resources.
Smuggled migrant children could become potential victims of human trafficking.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is committed to working with other government partners, both foreign and domestic, to help combat this problem.

13. Contact or Questions
Christopher Dombek Director, Office of Alien Smuggling Interdiction U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations