Jesus Ortiz-Plata, a 46-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for his involvement in a human smuggling operation that exploited the Blaine border. The investigation, initiated by Homeland Security and Border Protection in July 2023, revealed a smuggling ring that charged thousands of dollars to transport noncitizens, often utilizing freight trains for the crossings. While Ortiz-Plata was not the leader of the operation, he was connected to at least six cases where he used cell phones to coordinate the illegal movement of immigrants. His arrest in May 2024, which occurred in Everett while he was with three noncitizens, led to his guilty plea six months later. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office indicated that Ortiz-Plata is likely to face deportation after serving his prison sentence.

This case highlights significant concerns regarding human trafficking and the illegal immigration crisis affecting the region. The U. S. Attorney, Tessa Gorman, noted the importance of addressing such smuggling operations to deter future incidents. Overall, this incident underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating human smuggling along the U.

S. -Canada border.