Albuquerque Man Charged in Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man is accused of recruiting drivers and using his residence as a stash house to facilitate the movement of undocumented noncitizens through New Mexico, including an unaccompanied 17-year-old juvenile. According to court documents, on May 7, 2026, Border Patrol agents responded to a sensor activation near the Interstate 25 checkpoint north of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and encountered two Mexican nationals, including an unaccompanied 17-year-old juvenile, attempting to circumvent the checkpoint. The individuals told agents they were waiting for a man in a red truck who was supposed to transport them to Albuquerque. Agents located the driver nearby in a red truck. After waiving his Miranda rights, the driver admitted he had picked up the aliens in El Paso, Texas, dropped them off south of the checkpoint, instructed them to walk around the checkpoint to avoid detection, and planned to pick them up afterward and continue transporting them to Albuquerque. The driver further identified Brian Ramirez , 25, as a coordinator of the smuggling operation and identified stash houses in Albuquerque and the El Paso area used to harbor undocumented noncitizens. Through subsequent enforcement actions, cellular telephone evidence, and WhatsApp communications showing Ramirez coordinating smuggling loads, directing pickup locations, and communicating with the driver shortly before his arrest, agents confirmed the use of an apartment in southwest Albuquerque as a stash house connected to alien-smuggling activity. On July 9, 2026, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the Albuquerque residence and located Ramirez . After waiving his Miranda rights, Ramirez admitted he worked for an alien-smuggling organization by recruiting drivers and using his residence to harbor undocumented noncitizens for payment. Ramirez further acknowledged housing approximately 20 undocumented noncitizens at the residence and stated he had been expecting to receive one or two aliens on May 7, 2026, the same day the driver was apprehended while attempting to transport two undocumented noncitizens, including a juvenile, to Albuquerque. Ramirez is charged with conspiracy to violate 8 U.S.C. § 1324, bringing in and harboring certain aliens, and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. If convicted of the current charge, Ramirez faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Muñoz of the U.S. Border Patrol's El Paso Sector made the announcement today. The U.S. Border Patrol's El Paso Sector investigated this case with assistance from HSI Las Cruces, ICE ERO, USBP Las Cruces Station Disrupt Unit, El Paso Sector Targeting Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanisha V. Henson is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.