⏱ 2 min read
A brazen border run went wrong for Israeli national Israel Enden early last month. On January 8, 2026, Enden, 46, was stopped by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry, connecting Buffalo, NY to Niagara Falls, Ontario. Enden, a dual citizen born in the US, was driving a rental car with Canadian plates, but he couldn’t produce a rental agreement.
During secondary inspection, officers found a large male, later identified as Elazar Wigdorowitz, hiding under suitcases in the trunk. Further investigation revealed Enden, Wigdorowitz, and a third person had flown from Warsaw, Poland to Toronto, Canada the day before. When Enden drove into the US, he knew Wigdorowitz was an undocumented immigrant without permission to enter the country.
Wigdorowitz had a prior conviction for improper entry by an alien, and was sentenced to time served before being turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Enden now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bringing an alien to the US.
Enden’s arrest is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat human trafficking and protect communities from violent crime.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Human Trafficking
- Defendant: Western New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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