Pam Bondi announces expansion of anti-smuggling task force

(NewsNation) — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the expansion of Joint Task Force Alpha after recent actions to combat border smuggling and human trafficking.

The task force will now cover the northern border and will include agents from additional federal agencies.

Bondi outlined multiple operations that interrupted human smuggling operations across both the southern and northern borders. She also noted the extradition of those charged with human smuggling and convictions of those who transport people across the border illegally.

Bondi also warned people not to pay smugglers to come to the U.S., saying it is too dangerous.

Authorities detailed a case against 12 people who ran a human smuggling operation and engaged in asylum fraud, with profits of at least $18 million. They say the smugglers charged $40,000 to bring people to the U.S. with false documentation and coached them to lie in order to get into the country and to claim asylum.

Another case involved an accident where a tractor-trailer carrying migrants overturned in Chiapas, Mexico, killing more than 50 of the 160 people inside. Defendants in the case are being extradited from Guatemala to the U.S. for trial.

Bondi has traveled to Tampa, Florida, to give the update on work done by Joint Task Force Alpha and was joined by several U.S. attorneys and partners from the Department of Homeland Security.

The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a top priority, including efforts to combat human smuggling and drug trafficking into the U.S.

Although the administration has faced numerous legal challenges, President Donald Trump has pushed forward with his agenda to conduct mass deportations and strengthen enforcement along the border.