Cuban woman sexually abused by human smuggler at US border

A human smuggler is said to have sexually assaulted a Cuban migrant this week in Border between Mexico and Texasaccording to local media reports.

In an interview with Super Channel 12, District Attorney Roberto Serna of the 293rd Judicial District revealed that a coyote was captured by the state of Texas earlier this week for its involvement in the sexual assault of a migrant from the island. The incident reportedly occurred while the woman was staying at a safe house near the border.

According to Serna, the punishment for sexually abusing a woman, whether she is an immigrant or not – if all the evidence points to the perpetrator – can range from probation to five years in prison and possibly even life imprisonment. He stressed that in the state of Texas, perpetrators are punished indiscriminately.

Investigation process

Officers involved in the investigation are reviewing available evidence to formulate charges and will present them in court if necessary, Serna said, noting that the severity of the punishment will depend on several factors, including DNA evidence.

“If the complaint is a rape, we have to wait for the results of the DNA analysis. If the victim has only suffered indecent touching, the penalties are less severe,” he commented.

Serna added: “Everything is taken into account because it could be that the victim lied to obtain a more favorable immigration status, among other points that need to be verified.”

Many women have been victims of rape, kidnapping and human trafficking during the Cuban migration crisis on their journey to the US border. In May, Mexican authorities dismantled a human trafficking network operating in five bars in Quintana Rooin which a Cuban migrant and four Venezuelan women were sexually exploited.

Days after this incident, two other Cuban women who were sexually exploited in Quintana Roo were arrested in a joint operation by the Attorney General’s Office and that National Guard.

In February, the feminist organization Hiking trailswhich supports migrant women in Mexico, warned of an increase in cases of human trafficking involving Cuban, Colombian and Venezuelan women.

“Many women come to Mexico with the prospect of a job or after establishing romantic relationships online with Mexican men who have supported them or their families financially for several months or even years,” said María Ángel Vielma, a member of Caminantas, in an interview with EFE.

Meanwhile, the Cuban migration crisis continues unabated. A total of 17,563 Cubans entered the US border in June, according to data released on Monday by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)Although this figure is high, it represents the lowest figure in the first nine months of the 2024 U.S. fiscal year, which began on October 1 of the previous year.