Mother deported after attempting to give newborn to another woman to pay smuggler debt
May 11, 2026·Location: St. Louis, MO
Country of origin: Mexico

Maria Lidia Valle-Hernandez, a 28-year-old from Mexico, was removed from the United States on May 11, 2026, after attempting to fraudulently transfer her newborn baby to another undocumented immigrant to pay a debt to smugglers. She registered under a false name at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lake Saint Louis before giving birth in January 2024 and gave her hospital identification wristband to another woman to falsely claim the infant. Valle-Hernandez had been caught illegally entering the U.S. five times in August 2022 and was arrested for domestic assault in April 2026, which led to an ICE detainer. The newborn was taken into protective custody by Missouri Children's Division.
Sources
- ice.gov
Jun 12, 2026·archived copy
- wjactv.com
Jun 17, 2026·archived copy
- Illegal Mother Deported After Trying to Sell Baby for Smuggling Money, According to ICE - Total News
totalnews.com·Jun 12, 2026·archived copy
- lawenforcementtoday.com
Jun 16, 2026·archived copy
- freerepublic.com
- Mexican deported after baby scandal in Lake St. Louis
- Saint Louis v. Mullin, 3:26-cv-04847
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