Human smuggling is an enforcement priority for ICE because it undermines the integrity of our nation's legal immigration system. Additionally, smuggled aliens are often treated as a commodity and are exploited by the criminal networks that brought them here.

Except we have to first obtain travel documents. It's a whole process of getting through to the Chinese government. It's a very slow process.

They've not technically entered the U.S. For all intents and purposes, we could have turned around and sent them home. It would be the same if they showed up at the airport without a visa.

Trafficking in counterfeit documents poses a serious security vulnerability and contributes to a host of other types of crimes, including identity theft and financial fraud. Our goal is to identify and ultimately dismantle the criminal organizations behind these highly lucrative schemes.

Clearly it's an organized human smuggling attempt. It is a huge business and these people are treated like commodities.

They would have been caught one way or another.