Repeat illegal alien admits to human smuggling after high-speed chase

LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Laredo has admitted to unlawfully reentering the country and human smuggling charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jesus Hernandez-Herrera has five prior removals from the United States.

On Dec. 10, 2024, law enforcement was conducting surveillance on Clark Boulevard in Laredo in an area human smuggling organizations commonly use. There, a Ford Expedition and Cadillac were driving in tandem and stopped at an intersection where three suspected illegal aliens approached the two vehicles.

Authorities followed the Expedition to a location on Green Street where they observed suspected illegal aliens leave the residence and enter the Expedition. They attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the driver - Hernandez-Herrera - led them on a high-speed pursuit. At times, speeds reached 95 miles per hour with Hernandez-Herrera weaving in and out of heavy traffic.

The pursuit ended when Hernandez-Herrera crashed into two vehicles on Santa Maria Avenue. He and four illegal aliens ran on foot. Hernandez-Herrera ran into oncoming traffic, but law enforcement was able to apprehend him before he could cross onto the southbound lanes of IH-35.

He took full responsibility and admitted there were additional aliens in the Green Street residence. Authorities discovered an additional four people illegally in the United States and approximately 50.8 kilograms of marijuana at the location.

"This is precisely the type of dangerous behavior we need to deter through vigorous enforcement of our immigration laws," said Ganjei. “Here you have human smuggling, drugs, high-speed flight from officers, and a car crash. The Laredo community shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of such reckless criminality, and the Southern District of Texas is working hard to make sure they don’t have to. Similar offenders will find themselves in the same position, that being federal charges and a long prison stay."

U.S. District Judge John Kazen will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Hernandez-Herrera faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.