EXCLUSIVE: How An Illegal Immigrant Smuggled In Thousands More, And Got Rich Doing It

The northern border has historically been open season for smugglers, who exploit its harsh terrain and wall-less boundary for profit.

Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 23, himself an illegal immigrant from Mexico, helped smuggle hundreds of others through the U.S.-Canada border on a weekly basis for years.

On Thursday, Sanchez-Solis pleaded guilty to his role in the international conspiracy, The Daily Wire has learned. The illegal immigrant led the smuggling operation while living in Kansas City, Missouri, according to court documents.

The group brought hundreds of illegal immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America, into the United States through New York each week, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Each migrant presented thousands of dollars in profits for the smuggling ring.

Once his customers crossed into the United States, Sanchez-Solis’ organization sent drivers to pick them up and take them farther south, according to court documents. The group also instructed the smuggled illegal immigrants “to make testimonial videos touting the enterprise’s services,” Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, previously said.

For Sanchez-Solis’ part, he directed and participated in the smuggling operations with other top dogs in the group.

The smuggling organization also engaged in dangerous, high-speed chases with border agents on several occasions.

Smugglers set off a Border Patrol sensor in Franklin County and fled the scene at a high rate of speed in April 2023. Border Patrol caught up to them and stopped the car, apprehending the smugglers, who had seven adults and three children in tow.

During one of the smuggling operations in May 2023, Border Patrol engaged in a high-speed chase with a van loaded with illegal immigrants. The agents had to call off the pursuit because of the dangers it posed to the community.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office eventually stopped the vehicle using a tire-deflation device, but the smugglers and their customers fled on foot.

In August 2023, another smuggling vehicle struck a motorist while fleeing Border Patrol agents in Plattsburgh, New York. The driver and six illegal immigrants fled the scene of the collision on foot and were eventually caught.

Sanchez-Solis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and five counts of alien smuggling for commercial advantage and private financial gain, according to the Justice Department. He now awaits sentencing.

He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years behind bars and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Three other Mexican illegal immigrants were arrested and charged alongside Sanchez-Solis. Two of them were previously deported from the United States, according to ICE.