"She was one of the most powerful and successful alien smugglers of our times."

Mr. Raimondi said the centers provided a safe place for families and "serve as a deterrent to alien smugglers who needlessly endanger children's lives."

The bill gives the Immigration and Naturalization Service broader wiretap authority while investigating suspected alien smugglers.

Eighteen alien smugglers accepted guilty pleas.

In 1953, Border Patrol reported to have detained 1,545 "alien smugglers" along the border.

They cross into Mexico and she introduces him to an alien smuggler in Tijuana, Mexico who brought her over the border when she last crossed.

These alien smugglers are the lowest form of life.

"Informants tell us that it's considerably harder for the alien smugglers to put a load together," said Sylvester Reyes, chief patrol agent in McAllen.

"They borrow it from the alien smuggler, or the employment agent, or the ultimate employer, and they pay it off out of their wages."

Government officials and others familiar with the plan say it includes charging alien smugglers under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.