A Mexicali woman who orchestrated a prolific, years-long human smuggling operation at the Arizona border was sentenced Monday to 11 years in federal prison.
Ofelia Hernandez Salas, 64, headed a criminal network that charged migrants tens of thousands of dollars to enter the United States, often subjecting them to armed robberies during the journey.
According to court documents, Hernandez Salas facilitated the illegal travel of hundreds of individuals from more than a dozen countries, including Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, and Brazil. Her organization utilized various methods to bypass border security, such as providing ladders to scale fences or planks to cross waterways.
Despite the high fees paid by the migrants, the investigation revealed that Hernandez Salas and her accomplices frequently robbed the people they were smuggling at gun or knife point, seizing cash, cell phones, and personal belongings.
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Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division noted that the scale of the operation posed a significant threat to national security.
“Not only did she take away the ability to properly vet these people from immigration authorities, she and her co-conspirators also robbed these people of their personal belongings,” Duva stated. He emphasized that the defendant’s actions added “mortal danger” to an already hazardous crossing.
The case was spearheaded by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security designed to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.
Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, said the prosecution reflects the daily work being done to secure the southern border. “This investigation and prosecution exemplify the work that is being done every day in the District of Arizona… to secure our nation’s southern border and protect the American people,” Courchaine said.
Hernandez Salas was arrested in Mexico in March 2023 and later extradited to the United States. She pleaded guilty in late 2024 to conspiracy and several counts of bringing aliens to the U.S. for financial gain. A co-conspirator, Raul Saucedo-Huipio, has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing next month. Hernandez Salas will face deportation to Mexico immediately after serving her prison term.
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