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Mexico Sentences Driver to 12 Years for Transporting 52 Undocumented Migrants

The ruling signals pressure on smuggling routes in northwest Mexico used to reach the United States.

Overview

  • Federal prosecutors secured a 12-year prison term and an 814,275‑peso fine for José “N” for the illegal transport of migrants.
  • The National Guard stopped his vehicle in 2024 on the Mexico 15 highway between Ciudad Obregón and Guaymas and found 52 people without papers.
  • Twenty of those passengers were children, highlighting the risks to minors moved in crowded or unsafe trips.
  • Prosecutors said the offense is covered by Mexico’s Migration Law, which punishes transporting foreigners without legal status, especially in large groups or hazardous conditions.
  • Officials and local reports describe Sonora’s Mexico 15 corridor as a key path for smuggling toward the U.S., and they frame the sentence as part of ongoing enforcement on that route.