Illegal Alien from Guatemala Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Seeking to Obtain Custody of an Unaccompanied Alien Child
A 21-year-old Guatemalan woman pleaded guilty to fraudulently seeking custody of an unaccompanied child by falsely claiming a familial relationship with the child in a federal sponsorship application.
Gladys Marina Caal Chen, 21, of Guatemala, admitted in federal court to submitting a fraudulent application to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to gain custody of an unaccompanied alien child (UAC). Court documents reveal she falsely declared under penalty of perjury that she was the child’s sister, a claim later contradicted by evidence. The HHS-funded care provider terminated her application after identifying discrepancies in her identity and relationship claims, prompting further scrutiny by law enforcement.
Caal Chen was arrested on May 22 during a court-authorized search of a residence linked to another Guatemalan national charged with crimes involving UACs. Investigators found she had previously been sponsored as a UAC by a co-conspirator who used an alias, raising additional red flags about her credibility. During her arrest, she initially provided law enforcement with a false alias before admitting her true identity as Caal Chen, according to court records.
Federal prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of her actions, noting that her deception undermined a government program meant to protect vulnerable children. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division condemned her conduct, stating it threatened the integrity of systems designed to ensure child safety. The investigation was led by HSI, the FBI, and HHS-OIG, with support from international partners including Guatemala’s Office of Public Ministry.
Caal Chen faces up to five years in prison for making false statements in her application, with sentencing scheduled for November 23. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, which targets illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Additional charges against five defendants in a separate visa fraud scheme were also unsealed today in the Southern District of Georgia.