How Much Time Will My Husband Get for Smuggling Immigrants?

For a first federal offense involving smuggling of undocumented immigrants, the sentencing range typically falls between two and five years depending on the specific circumstances of the case. San Diego is one of the busiest federal districts in the country for immigration-related prosecutions, and the judges and prosecutors there handle these cases routinely.

Several factors shape where within that range the sentence lands. The number of people being smuggled matters. So does whether anyone was endangered, injured, or placed in dangerous conditions during transport. The role your husband played, whether he was an organizer, a driver, or a lower-level participant, also factors into the guidelines calculation. A first offense with no aggravating factors and genuine cooperation with prosecutors can result in a sentence at the lower end or even below the guidelines range if the attorney argues effectively for a downward departure.

GEO Group operates detention facilities under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, so your husband may still be in immigration detention rather than formally sentenced yet. If charges have been filed but the case has not gone to sentencing, the timeline depends on whether he takes a plea or goes to trial.

On getting money to him, the process at a GEO facility typically runs through a third party platform. Call the facility directly and ask which service they use for inmate deposits, whether that is JPay, TouchPay, or another platform. Once you know the service, deposits can be made online or through their app.

To notify him that money is on the books, the deposit notification usually shows up automatically on his end when funds are posted. A letter through InmateAid confirming the deposit and including any other information he needs is also a reliable way to make sure the message gets through.