A foreign national has pleaded guilty to conspiring to facilitate the smuggling of illegal migrants into the United States, and will face deportation after serving a two-year prison sentence, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says.
Gonzalez de Paz took part in a conspiracy to facilitate the smuggling of seven migrants into the United States on Jan. 27 and 28, 2024, a CBSA investigation revealed. The CBSA says the investigation found that Gonzalez de Paz organized the illegal border crossing in exchange for money.
The individual was also previously arrested and charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) on Nov. 6, 2024, after he avoided examination and returned to Canada without authorization, the CBSA says.
After pleading guilty to the charge on Jan. 21, 2025, Gonzalez de Paz received a 10-month prison sentence.
“According to the IRPA, criminality is grounds for inadmissibility to Canada,” the CBSA said in the news release. “Once the sentence associated with the guilty plea has been served, the CBSA will take the administrative steps to remove Mr. Gonzalez de Paz.”
The CBSA says members of its Criminal Investigations, Investigations and Removals, and Hearings and Intelligence teams worked together to identify Gonzalez de Paz and the nature of his illegal activities. Additionally, the teams located and apprehended him, and say they will “remove him from Canada as soon as possible.”
“Individuals who violate Canada’s immigration laws face serious consequences, including criminal charges, court-imposed fines, jail time, a criminal record, and removal,” CBSA Quebec Regional Director Eric Lapierre said in a Nov. 10 statement.
