USCIS Helped Convict Two Sex Traffickers in San Antonio
Two people received a combined 32 years in federal prison for trafficking a 16-year-old orphan across three states. USCIS — the same agency that processes your green card or work permit — helped investigators crack the case by pulling immigration records and reviewing jail calls. The verdict shows how immigration databases feed directly into federal criminal prosecutions.
A federal court in San Antonio sentenced two people to a combined 32 years in prison for sex trafficking a 16-year-old orphan. USCIS — the agency that handles green cards, work permits, and citizenship applications — played a direct role in building the criminal case against them.
What happened in court
Giannys Alexandra Ramirez-Fernandez, 21, and Nelson Adrian Perez-Martinez, 23, traveled with the minor from Colombia through Kentucky to San Antonio. According to court records, in July 2024 they took the child to roughly six different motels, paying in cash from money the child earned through commercial sex acts. Both were arrested on July 30, 2024. A jury found Perez-Martinez guilty on all counts on February 23, 2026. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced him to 240 months — 20 years — in federal prison plus lifetime supervised release. Ramirez-Fernandez, who pleaded guilty in September 2025, received 150 months.
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USCIS contributed to the investigation by running immigration record checks, reviewing jail phone calls, and advising the investigative team on immigration law. The case was also worked by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the San Antonio Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia McNab and Sade Bogart prosecuted it.
This case is a reminder that USCIS shares information with law enforcement agencies. If you are a victim of trafficking or another crime, U.S. law offers specific protections — including the T visa (for trafficking victims) and the U visa (for victims of certain crimes who cooperate with law enforcement). These protections exist regardless of your current immigration status.
What to do
- If you or someone you know is a trafficking victim, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Trained staff can connect you with legal help and safe housing.
- If you are a crime victim and want to learn whether you qualify for a T or U visa, contact an immigration attorney — these visas can lead to lawful status and a work permit.
- To report suspected immigration fraud or abuse to USCIS, use the official USCIS Tip Form at uscis.gov.
- If ICE contacts you, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an attorney before answering questions.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Trafficking victims often fear that coming forward will trigger deportation — but the T visa exists precisely to protect them. An approved T visa grants up to four years of lawful status and work authorization, and after three years you may apply for a green card (Form I-485, the application for permanent residency from inside the US). If you have already cooperated with law enforcement, document that cooperation now — it is a required element of the U visa application. Consult an immigration attorney before approaching any agency on your own.