U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has diligently sought out ways to detect fraudulent migrant families that buy, kidnap, and exchange children in order to expedite access into the United States.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations started using DNA testing in May 2019, when illegal border crossing rose to more than 132,000 in one month.

The DNA tests are used to prove familial relationships when documentation is not available. The DNA test is administered through cheek swabs and is done voluntarily, with results within 90 minutes.

Earlier this month, the government implemented a pilot program to collect DNA from immigrants in custody to be stored in a massive criminal database run by the FBI.

Over 64% of apprehensions by Border Patrol agents were individual who were part of a family unit. Agents discovered up to one third of the families were fraudulent.

More than 700 fake familes have been caught. Another 1,500 were found to have counterfeit documents with claims of family ties, and more than 1,000 people have been prosecuted.

Recently, in Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Border Patrol agents were processing a woman with a 2-month-old baby, and something seemed off, so they used DNA testing. After 3 or 4 tests, the results kept coming back with “two different strains of DNA back which isn’t humanly possible,” reported Matt Albence, acting director of ICE.

“The mother was spitting into the child’s mouth to put her DNA into the child so they could be released as a family unit,” said Albence. He added the mother was arrested and the child was rescued.

“That’s what’s going on down at the border. That’s the humanitarian crisis we’re talking about, and we’re trying to deal with it,” said Albence.

Last year, a 51-year-old illegal alien from Honduras brought a 6-month-old baby with him to the border. When he was told he would need to take a DNA test, the man confessed to Border Patrol agents he bought the baby for $80 so he could get into the U.S. easily.

Human trafficking, child exploitation, smuggling, identity and benefit fraud have dropped significantly since fast results of DNA testing has become available. Albence concluded “When these criminal organizations can no longer create these fake family units it kills their market.”