Joint Task Force Alpha Targets Human Smuggling, Trafficking, Texas 2024

Joint Task Force Alpha Targets Human Smuggling, Trafficking in Texas

A hard-hitting crime spree has gripped the Southwest Border, with human smuggling and trafficking networks operating at an alarming rate. To combat this, a summit was convened by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in El Paso, Texas, to bring together law enforcement leaders to discuss dismantling these networks.

During the meeting, Assistant Attorney General Polite was joined by senior leadership from five U.S. Attorneys’ offices from the districts along the Southwest Border, including U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Savel for the District of Arizona, and U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez for the District of New Mexico.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary John K. Tien, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Director Steve K. Francis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller, also joined, as did other interagency members of Joint Task Force Alpha.

Assistant Attorney General Polite expressed his appreciation for the broad and continued support of Joint Task Force Alpha. In its first two years, this joint law enforcement effort has resulted in substantial and continued disruption through specific and general deterrence, collaborating on numerous high-priority investigations and cases of significant organizations and their key leaders and facilitators.

These efforts have resulted in dozens of arrests, indictments, and convictions both in the United States and with foreign law enforcement partners, along with obtaining substantial jail sentences and asset forfeiture.

The discussion included ways to further advance Joint Task Force Alpha’s mission to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

JTFA members also discussed identifying ways to strengthen efforts to disrupt and dismantle those human smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse or exploit those being smuggled, pose national security risks, or have links to transnational organized crime.

The summit provided a crucial opportunity for law enforcement leaders to share best practices and coordinate efforts to combat human smuggling and trafficking in the region.

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