A Mexican national accused of participating in an international human smuggling conspiracy has been extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges in Texas.
Monica Hernandez-Palma, 32, also known as Moni, was arrested in Mexico following a U.S. extradition request and surrendered to U.S. authorities on Thursday. She made her initial appearance in federal court in the Western District of Texas on Friday, where an indictment against her was unsealed.
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The indictment alleges that Hernandez-Palma conspired with others to smuggle migrants into the United States illegally for financial gain between November 2020 and September 2023.
Hernandez-Palma faces charges of conspiracy to bring a migrant to the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry and bringing a migrant to the United States without authorization for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
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If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison on each count.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Pavlinski for the Western District of Texas.
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