Sign in

New York woman pleads guilty to helping migrants sneak into the US from Canada

As per officials, the four men crossed into the US on foot and met with Taylor near Churubusco, New York, where she drove them further into the county.

Published on: Aug 12, 2026, 08:39:46 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

A US citizen on Tuesday pleaded guilty to helping migrants from Canada illegally sneak into the United States. As per the Department of Justice, the woman was caught while "smuggling" four men through the US-Canada border.

The 43-year-old woman faces a minimum of upto five years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026. (REUTERS/Representational)
The 43-year-old woman faces a minimum of upto five years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026. (REUTERS/Representational)

Based on an official statement from the US Justice Department, the 43-year-old woman, identified as Stacey Taylor, was stopped in New York, where officials found four men inside the car with her.

"Agents then determined the four men, three from India and one from Canada, were illegal aliens and had just crossed the U.S.-Canadian border illegally, without inspection, in the freezing cold," said the department.

As per officials, these four men crossed into the US on foot and met with Taylor near Churubusco, New York, where the 43-year-old drove them further into the county.

However, officials added that the "smuggling" of these four men revealed that Taylor had been involved in multiple other "human smuggling events."

Also Read | 24 people with links to India-based gangs arrested in US, Canada, Europe

"Following her January 2025 arrest, she was subsequently stopped in a suspected alien smuggling venture in August 2025 and was again implicated in alien smuggling in September 2025," said the Justice Department.

Taylor pleads guilty

As per the US Justice Department, Taylor pleaded guilty to the crime and admitted that she was smuggling migrants from across the border for a profit.

The 43-year-old woman faces a minimum of upto five years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026.

"A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors," the statement added further.

Before Taylor, in July 2025, another woman was caught in the act by officials. 53-year-old Stephanie Square, a US-Canadian citizen, pleaded guilty to smuggling migrants across the border.

As per court documents, Square was the leader of a human smuggling organisation that trafficked migrants across the US-Canada border.

Square's cases focused on the death of five people, including two kids under three years old, in the St. Lawrence River in March 2023.

As per the DOJ, a Romanian couple and their two children were to be brought into the US across the river.

  • HT News Desk
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    HT News Desk

    Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.