Texas Penal Code § 20.05 & § 20.06 – A Felony That Brings State & Federal Heat
In Texas, Smuggling of Persons is committed when you knowingly:
- Transport or conceal an individual with the intent to hide them from law enforcement, or
- Encourage or induce someone to enter or remain in the United States illegally
Continuous Smuggling of Persons (§ 20.06) applies when it involves two or more people over 30+ days and is now one of Texas’ most aggressively prosecuted felonies.
Texas now treats human smuggling as organized crime. DPS, Border Patrol, ICE, and multi-county task forces run joint operations. Vehicles are seized immediately and forfeited even if charges are later dropped.
Common Scenarios
- Driving a cousin or friend across a checkpoint who lacks papers
- Giving a ride to undocumented workers for pay or as a favor
- Letting people hide in your truck or ranch without knowing their status
- Tractor-trailer or stash-house cases (automatic first-degree or federal trafficking)
Why You Need Barton & Associates Right Now
These are not normal state cases—they are political, high-profile, and prosecuted by special units. Bond is routinely $50,000–$500,000+, and federal ICE holds prevent release even if you make bond.
At Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our former border prosecutors and board-certified trial lawyers have defended hundreds of smuggling cases from the Rio Grande Valley to Dallas:
- Prove you had no knowledge of immigration status
- Show the “passengers” were family members or lawful residents
- Attack illegal traffic stops and prolonged checkpoint detentions
- Negotiate with DPS troopers and task-force agents before federal indictment
- Recover seized vehicles and cash through early motion practice
We have attorneys who speak Spanish fluently and respond 24/7 along the entire Texas border.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for smuggling of persons, continuous smuggling, or human trafficking in Texas, contact Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law for a free, confidential consultation.
