Federal authorities have uncovered more than 15,500 cases involving individuals who have sponsored multiple unaccompanied migrant children, a practice dubbed "super sponsorship," according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This figure was cited during a DOJ press conference on Thursday, which detailed alleged fraud and exploitation within the federal system responsible for placing migrant minors in secure environments.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted the substantial number of "super sponsor" cases as part of a wider federal review into how unaccompanied children are transferred from government custody to private sponsors. This announcement accompanied new indictments related to an alleged Guatemalan smuggling and sponsorship fraud operation, underscoring the government's efforts to address vulnerabilities in the system.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is tasked with placing unaccompanied migrant children with vetted sponsors while their immigration proceedings are underway. The integrity of this system, officials noted, relies heavily on accurate documentation, identity verification, and truthful claims of family relationships to determine eligibility for sponsorship.
Federal prosecutors have charged three Guatemalan nationals in connection with an alleged scheme that exploited these reliance points. According to court documents, the defendants — Maritza Azucena Cahuec Coc, 38; her brother Carlos Agustin Cahuec Coc, 33, also known as “Tuco”; and Gladys Marina Caal Chen, 20 — are accused of using false identities, forged documents, and fabricated family ties to gain custody of migrant children. These children had entered the United States without parents or legal guardians.
The alleged scheme operated between December 2020 and October 2023. Prosecutors contend that the group systematically targeted the sponsorship system by submitting fraudulent applications designed to deceive federal officials into approving custody transfers. Authorities allege that Maritza Cahuec Coc coordinated efforts to bring individuals into the United States illegally and subsequently secure custody of minors through falsified sponsorship paperwork, including altered identity documents and false assertions of family relationships.
Investigators further allege that some of these fraudulent applications were approved, leading to the release of children from federal custody into homes connected to the alleged scheme. Financial transactions, including funds deposited into accounts controlled by individuals linked to the operation, are also part of the evidence presented by officials.
In May, Carlos Cahuec Coc was arrested while driving a vehicle registered to his sister. A 16-year-old unaccompanied minor was present in the vehicle at the time of his arrest, as stated in court filings. Investigators claim he was involved in communications regarding smuggling operations and efforts to obtain custody of migrant children through the submission of fraudulent sponsorship applications.
The broader federal review and the recent indictments reflect growing concerns among officials that criminal actors may be exploiting existing gaps in programs specifically designed to protect vulnerable children. The investigation into these alleged activities has been a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), alongside international partners. This case is part of a wider federal initiative aimed at dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating across the Americas.
In a related prosecution, federal officials reported that Juan Tiul Xi, 27, pleaded guilty to charges linked to the smuggling of a 14-year-old girl into the United States and subsequently obtaining custody through false statements. Prosecutors alleged that Xi arranged the child’s journey and instructed her to use a different identity to bolster his sponsorship application. Authorities stated that the child was released into his custody after federal officials approved the application based on these misrepresentations. Court documents further allege that after gaining custody, Xi sexually assaulted the minor. He had previously been convicted in Ohio state court on sexual battery charges and received additional federal prison time for immigration-related offenses, which will be served consecutively.
An indictment represents an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The ongoing federal scrutiny aims to fortify the sponsorship system against exploitation, ensuring that unaccompanied migrant children are placed in genuinely safe and supportive environments.
