A US Customs and Border Protection supervisor has been arrested and charged with harboring an illegal immigrant who authorities believe may be related to him and with whom he was allegedly in a “romantic relationship”.
Andres Wilkinson, 52, was released on a $75,000 bond Thursday after making his initial court appearance in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas earlier this week.
Wilkinson, who has served with CBP since 2001 and was promoted to a supervisory position in 2021, faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
The veteran agent, tasked with overseeing the enforcement of customs and immigration laws, helped his paramour, Elva Edith Garcia-Vallejo, cross through Border Patrol checkpoints during the time they lived together, according to the criminal complaint.
Garcia-Vallejo overstayed a non-immigrant visa she obtained in 2023, according to the complaint, which notes Wilkinson “was aware of her unlawful status in the United States” yet maintained a romantic relationship with her and allowed her and her daughter to live in his Laredo, Texas home.
Law enforcement conducted surveillance at Wilkinson’s residence between June and November of last year and observed Garcia-Vallejo and her minor child living at the home, according to prosecutors.
Wilkinson is referred to as Garcia-Vallejo’s “boyfriend” in the complaint, however, the document notes that records reviewed by investigators determined that the illegal immigrant was the CBP supervisor’s niece. Her father is the agent’s brother, according to the complaint.
Investigators interviewed Garcia-Vallejo earlier this month and she revealed that she had been “living with her uncle” since August 2024.
The complaint further alleges that Wilkinson provided financial support to Garcia-Vallejo, including credit cards, assistance with financial obligations and access to vehicles registered in his name.
“Based on the above facts and circumstances, there is probable cause to believe that SCBPO Wilkinson brought in, harbored, concealed, transported, and shielded an alien from detection, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such entry, residence, or transportation would be in violation” of federal law, the complaint states.
CBP did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
