Leigh Winchell Quotations

Human smuggling is an enforcement priority for ICE because it undermines the integrity of our nation's legal immigration system. Additionally, smuggled aliens are often treated as a commodity and are exploited by the criminal networks that brought them here.

The aliens were charged as much as $35,000 apiece to be smuggled from their home countries through Canada to the U.S..

Trafficking in counterfeit documents poses a serious security vulnerability and contributes to a host of other types of crimes, including identity theft and financial fraud. Our goal is to identify and ultimately dismantle the criminal organizations behind these highly lucrative schemes.

Except we have to first obtain travel documents. It's a whole process of getting through to the Chinese government. It's a very slow process.

The significance of this one I can say with confidence is an entire organization was shut down.

They would have been caught one way or another.

They've not technically entered the U.S. For all intents and purposes, we could have turned around and sent them home. It would be the same if they showed up at the airport without a visa.

Clearly it's an organized human smuggling attempt. It is a huge business and these people are treated like commodities.

ICE is committed to using our law enforcement authorities to dismantle the methods criminals use to earn, move and store illicit funds. Our goal, as the primary investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security, is to disrupt and deter activities that pose a threat to our nation' s welfare and public safety.