Authorities announced charges Wednesday against a longtime Customs and Border Protection officer they say was knowingly living with an illegal immigrant girlfriend, who was also his niece.
Andres Wilkinson, a supervisory officer in Laredo, Texas, began living with the woman in 2024 and knew about her lack of legal status even as he supported her, paying for her car insurance and credit cards, an investigator told the court in an affidavit, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
When confronted by agents, the woman admitted that Officer Wilkinson was her uncle — whom investigators said she also considered “her boyfriend.” Her two children also lived with them.
Officer Wilkinson, 52, has been ordered detained pending a hearing Thursday. His niece and alleged romantic partner, Elva Edith Garcia-Vallejo, is being held as a material witness in the case.
Ms. Garcia-Vallejo previously had a legal short-term visitor’s visa, but her status expired last March.
At one point in 2023, authorities said, she was living here with her husband, Juan Rodriguez. In early 2024, he filed a petition for legal permanent residency for Ms. Garcia-Vallejo. But authorities said records show he withdrew that petition last April.
By that time, authorities say, she was living with Officer Wilkinson.
In the court affidavit, the government says Ms. Garcia-Vallejo told investigators Officer Wilkinson is her uncle. She is the daughter of his brother.
Officer Wilkinson has been with the immigration service since May 2001, which is before Customs and Border Protection even existed. At that time, he was an immigration inspector.
He was promoted to CBP enforcement officer in 2007 and became a supervisory officer in 2021.
He faces one charge of harboring an illegal alien.
The Washington Times has sought comment from Officer Wilkinson’s lawyer.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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