Canadian Citizen Sentenced In Alien Smuggling Case Involving Underground Cargo Train Tunnel Between Canada And United States

Today, a Guatemalan native and naturalized citizen of Canada, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, a $8,680 fine, a $600 special assessment and one year of supervised release in an alien smuggling case in which illegal aliens were smuggled into the United States through the underground cargo railroad tunnel which runs under the Detroit River between Canada and the United States, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.

Schneider was joined in the announcement by U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison.

Juan Antonio Garcia-Jimenez, 53, of Windsor, Ontario, was sentenced by Stephen J. Murphy, III. U.S. District Court Judge, Eastern District of Michigan.  

The investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, found that between July 30, 2018 and August 25, 2018, Garcia-Jimenez smuggled six aliens into the United States by instructing them to enter into the underground train tunnel late at night, and walk on the narrow walkway 1.6 miles until they arrived in the United States.   U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested each of the aliens as they exited the tunnel into the United States.  The aliens were charged with illegal entry and after sentencing were removed to their native country.

“Today’s sentencing is the direct result of a whole of government approach to border security,” said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison. “The teamwork demonstrated in this case should be commended for their actions to arrest and prosecute Garcia-Jimenez who disregarded the safety of 6 aliens for financial gain.” 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy McDonald and Susan Fairchild with the assistance of DHS/ICE and RCMP.