San Antonio Human Smuggling Lawyer

Protecting Your Rights Against Human Smuggling Charges in Texas

Illegal immigration is an issue that affects many people in Central and South Texas. Because of the region's close proximity to the border between the United States and Mexico, state and federal officials in the area are on the lookout for people who may have entered the U.S. illegally. In some cases, a person may be accused of facilitating the illegal entry of one or more people into the United States, and they may face criminal charges for human smuggling. This is a serious offense, and a person who is facing these charges will need strong representation from an experienced criminal law attorney.

The Law Offices of Sam H. Lock advocates on behalf of clients in multiple types of criminal cases. Attorney Lock has more than 25 years of legal experience, and he believes in protecting the rights of those who are facing criminal charges and advocating for their interests throughout the legal process. He will help you determine the best defense strategy against charges of human smuggling or trafficking, and he will work to avoid a conviction when possible or help you minimize the potential penalties that you may face.

Smuggling or Trafficking of Persons

While those who enter the United States illegally may face deportation or other consequences, other people who help them enter the country may also face criminal charges. In Texas, the offense of smuggling of persons involves concealing or harboring a person who has entered or remained in the U.S. in violation of federal laws. A person may also be charged with this offense if they transported a person using a motor vehicle, aircraft, or boat with the intent of concealing them from law enforcement or helping them flee from an official who was attempting to arrest or detain them. In addition to state-level charges of human smuggling, a person may be charged with the federal offense of alien smuggling.

Smuggling of persons is, at minimum, a third-degree felony, and a person who is convicted of this offense may be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to two to 10 years in prison. The offense may be charged as a second-degree felony if the person being smuggled was under the age of 18 or was placed at risk of serious injury or death, if the alleged offender intended to receive financial compensation, or if a person was in possession of a firearm when they allegedly committed the offense. A second-degree felony conviction can result in a prison sentence of two to 20 years. If an alleged act of human smuggling caused a person who was smuggled to become a victim of sexual assault or suffer serious injury or death, a person may be charged with a first-degree felony, and a conviction can result in a prison sentence of five to 99 years.

Human smuggling is sometimes confused with the similar offense of human trafficking. However, human smuggling involves the voluntary participation of the person who is being smuggled or concealed, while human trafficking involves transporting or harboring a person and using force or coercion to cause them to participate in prostitution or other forms of forced labor. Human trafficking is generally a more serious offense than human smuggling. Trafficking of persons is usually charged as a second-degree felony, although first-degree felony charges may apply if the person who was allegedly trafficked was under the age of 18 or suffered serious injury or death.

Contact Our Uvalde County Smuggling of Persons Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with human smuggling or other offenses related to illegal immigration, the Law Offices of Sam H. Lock can provide you with a skilled and experienced defense.

Contact us today and arrange a consultation by calling our office in San Antonio at 210-226-0965. We serveclients in Val Verde, Edwards, Real, Bandera, Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Frio, Zavala, Maverick, Dimmit, Webb, LaSalle,McMullen, Kerr, Kimble, Sutton, Atascosa, Duval, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Brooks, Jim Wells, Live Oak, Hidalgo, Starr, Karnes, and Wilson Counties.