US mom, Juarez woman charged with running migrant stash house

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A federal grand jury has charged a West Texas mom and a Juarez, Mexico, resident for allegedly harboring nearly two dozen unauthorized migrants at a home in Socorro, Texas.

Veronica Hernandez Ordonez and Socorro Contreras face arraignment in U.S. Federal District Court in El Paso next Friday on charges of conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens in connection with their Feb. 20 arrest at a home on the 10200 block of Hatchett Road in Socorro.

Members of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Anti-Smuggling Unit knocked at the home after receiving information several unauthorized migrants were being kept there. A federal complaint alleges Ordonez opened the door and allowed the agents inside, where they spotted an individual trying to sneak out a side door. The agents detained six unauthorized migrants, Ordonez, and a female U.S. citizen who was in the home with her minor son.

According to court documents, Ordonez told investigators she was hired as a caretaker by a migrant smuggling organization and communicated with her employers through a social media app.  Ordonez said she was on a visitor’s visa in the United States and subleased the home from Contreras, a U.S. citizen.

Court documents allege Contreras told investigators she knew unauthorized migrants were staying at the home and she rented the house so that Ordonez and a smuggler could use it. She allegedly told investigators more than 20 migrants had stayed at the home.

Records show Contreras has a previous conviction for aiding and abetting illegal entry; she was sentenced to 12 months’ probation in 2010.