A Kenyan woman has reportedly been convicted in the United States after she was arrested for attempting to enter the country using her sister’s travel documents.
According to Washington DC News, the 33-year-old was apprehended on February 21 this year by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for using her sister’s passport and visa to enter America.
Her case began after she was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport upon arriving from Accra, Ghana.
During interrogation at the airport, the Kenyan woman was unable to respond to simple questions about her previous travel history associated with the passport and visa. It was during the interrogation that she admitted to using her sister’s documents.
In preliminary investigations, Customs and Border Protection officers also found other documents belonging to the 33-year-old’s sister, including a birth certificate, credit cards, and tax forms.
The suspect is said to have attempted to obtain a non-immigrant visa, which is typically granted to visitors entering the US temporarily for business or tourism.
She was later arraigned and prosecuted at a court located in the Eastern District of Virginia. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in pursuing this conviction,” said Christine Waugh, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
“We hope that it sends a strong message that CBP remains committed to intercepting those attempting to immigrate illegally to the United States,” she added.
While commending the court for convicting the Kenyan woman, Waugh said that CBP will continue working with federal law enforcement partners to hold those who violate America’s immigration laws accountable.
The 33-year-old joins the long list of Kenyans who have been previously arrested in foreign nations. The woman's arrest in the U.S. comes just two days after another Kenyan woman was apprehended in India for attempting to smuggle drugs.
The 43-year-old woman, who is currently in detention by Indian authorities, was arrested on Wednesday, April 2, for attempting to enter the Asian country with cocaine worth Ksh271 million.
She was arrested at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport in Mumbai, India’s capital, immediately after arriving from Nairobi via Doha, Qatar.
According to reports, the cocaine, which weighed a total of 1,789 grammes, was discovered by security officers in her luggage.
