DACA recipient loses benefit after alien-smuggling charge

A recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will no longer be eligible to maintain her DACA status after reportedly smuggling three undocumented immigrants on Monday.

A U.S. Border Patrol Agent working the I-25 immigration checkpoint north of Las Cruces said a dark Toyota Scion approached the primary immigration inspection checkpoint and noticed a woman behind the wheel along with three other men in the car.

The woman reportedly gave the agent a Texas Identification Card but not a valid driver’s license. Officials say she said they were heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Upon further investigation, the passengers admitted to not having any immigration documents and entering the country illegally from Mexico.

All four of them were searched and transported to a U.S. Border Patrol Station. They were also entered into various immigration and criminal databases where it was confirmed the woman was not a U.S. Citizen, but rather a citizen of Mexico who is a DACA recipient. The other three individuals were citizens of Mexico.

The woman will be prosecuted on alien-smuggling charges and may no longer be eligible to maintain her DACA status. She had applied and received her status in April of 2017.