Federal prosecutors said they have busted a lucrative and massive migrant smuggling ring that brought thousands of Cubans to the U.S. while instructing them how to deceive border guards to get in and fake asylum claims to win more permanent status.
It started out small but grew to become a multimillion-dollar operation, collecting at least $18 million over the 4 1/2 years it was in operation. It charged $1,500 to $40,000 to help unauthorized migrants burrow into America.
The outfit even chartered planes to move migrants around, with financial records showing it spent $2.5 million on flights alone from January 2021 to June 2025, the Justice Department said.
Twelve people were charged by indictment, three of them living here illegally. Two are listed as currently in Cuba.
“This criminal organization operated a front for fake asylum claims, churning out frivolous applications around the country,” said Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The outfit advertised on social media with what authorities called “flashy” ads and videos of migrants being smuggled.
Migrants were told how to pose as Europeans so they could enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.
