Illegal Mother Deported After Trying to Sell Baby for Smuggling Money, According to ICE

ICE Deports 28-Year-Old Mexican National In Baby Trafficking Case

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported a 28-year-old woman from Mexico, María Lidia Valle Hernández, following revelations that she tried to fraudulently transfer a newborn to settle a debt with a smuggler. Now back in her hometown, her actions have drawn attention to the issue of human trafficking.

The investigation began when Valle-Hernandez allegedly registered with a false name at St. Joseph Hospital in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. According to ICE, her plan involved letting another undocumented woman claim the baby as her own. After her hospital release, she reportedly gave a fraudster her hospital wristband to illegally obtain the newborn.

Authorities in Lake St. Louis received a tip about a plot to unlawfully transfer custody of a child, though the informant’s identity remains unknown. The police then alerted the hospital, Missouri Children’s Division, and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

HSI agents confirmed Valle-Hernandez as the child’s biological mother by using fingerprint identification. Even when given chances to clarify her story, she repeatedly made false statements. It wasn’t until confronted with fingerprint evidence that she admitted her actions stemmed from financial difficulties and debts to smugglers, hoping to remedy her situation by bringing another child from Mexico to the U.S.

“Human trafficking and smuggling can happen anywhere, even in quiet areas like Lake St. Louis, Missouri,” noted Gregory Parris, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in the St. Louis area, commenting on the developments.

Interestingly, collaboration between local police and ICE isn’t universal; local laws sometimes restrict information sharing, especially on child safety issues. Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi from Lake St. Louis commended the cooperation among law enforcement, ICE, and hospital staff, stating, “We appreciate the collaboration with our federal partners to keep our communities safe. Educating law enforcement, medical personnel, and the public about the signs of human trafficking is essential for protecting victims and holding offenders accountable.”

Valle-Hernandez has a notable immigration history in the U.S. In August 2022, she was encountered multiple times by U.S. Border Patrol agents while attempting to enter the country illegally near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. On one occasion, she was arrested twice in a single day for repeatedly trying to evade capture. Each time, she was deported back to Mexico.

Additonally, her criminal record includes an arrest for fourth-degree domestic assault. Valle-Hernandez was removed from the U.S. following an immigration court order issued on May 11, as per ICE Enforcement and Deportation Operations officials.