Midland Alien Smuggling Charges Lawyers

Protecting Those Charged with Federal Smuggling Offenses in Midland County

In recent years, individuals who enter and remain in the United States without proper documentation have been under increasingly strict scrutiny by the federal government. Additionally, those that help others enter or live in the U.S. illegally—whether a person or organization—are also at risk. Assisting a non-citizen entering the country violates federal immigration law, and those who are caught can potentially be sentenced to years in prison.

If you have found yourself or a loved one facing federal charges related to alien smuggling, get in touch with the legal team at Eckman Law Firm, PLLC right away. Our alien smuggling charge attorneys are available now to discuss your best path forward and represent you should your case go to pretrial negotiations or court. We have helped numerous Texans and other individuals receive lighter sentences based on their alleged crimes and may even be able to secure getting your charges dropped entirely.

Facing an alien smuggling charge? Our Midland alien smuggling charge attorney is ready to represent you. Call Eckman Law Firm, PLLC, today at (432) 223-9427 or contact us online to start your defense. 

What Is Alien Smuggling?

Federal law under 8 U.S.C. Section 1324 makes it illegal to aid or encourage the illegal entry of an alien into the United States. “Alien” refers to an individual who resides in a country where they are not a citizen—an “illegal alien” is someone who is doing so against the law (e.g., without a visa). Anyone who brings or attempts to bring someone into a country illegally may be charged with alien smuggling.

Any individual or group is considered an accomplice in alien smuggling and can therefore be charged if they intentionally do one or more of the following to help someone enter the United States illegally:

• Abets
• Aids
• Assists
• Encourages
• Facilitates
• Transports

Facts About Alien Smuggling in the United States

Based on 2014 data provided by the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), 2,241 people were convicted of alien smuggling, which accounted for 11.2% of all immigration offenders that year.

Other data provided by the USSC that year includes:

• Close to 60% of all alien smuggling offenders had little or no prior criminal history predating 2014.
• Nearly half (45.2%) of the offenses involved the transportation, harboring, or smuggling of six individuals or less.
• Over half (54.7%) of all alien smuggling offenders were U.S. citizens.
• The vast majority (77.2%) of alien smuggling offenders were male.
• The top five districts where smuggling offenders are caught in order from highest to lowest are Southern Texas (by a landslide) followed by Arizona, West Texas, Southern California, and New Mexico.

Alien Smuggling Is Common in Texas And Dangerous

Because people who are not legally allowed to live in the U.S. must attempt to enter the country without being caught, the process of smuggling “illegal aliens” can be very taxing and dangerous. Alien smugglers often transport individuals in a hazardous manner and may force them to commit other crimes, like drug trafficking, along the way. Once people are successfully smuggled into the U.S., they are often forced to work in unsafe and unethical conditions. This is largely because alien smugglers tend to charge high prices for their services, which many aliens are unable to pay. Therefore, the federal government is interested in alien smuggling cases both to prevent illegal immigration as well as to discourage American citizens from taking advantage of the undocumented immigrant population.

Fighting Federal Criminal Charges In Court and Through Negotiations

Not all criminal cases go to trial. Some are settled out of court through negotiations with the prosecutor. By extensively preparing for a case, we are always ready to resolve the matter in or out of court. We have obtained optimal results for past clients before trial and have handled complex matters that had to be presented in front of judges and juries. Additionally, our team has tried cases in state and federal courts throughout Texas. Regardless of how serious your situation is or whether it can be resolved in or out of court, Victoria and Aaron Eckman can deliver the sound legal representation you need. We will be by your side every step of the way, helping make informed decisions about how to proceed with your case.

Contact Eckman Law Firm, PLLC, today to schedule a FREE consultation!