The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CBP officers, has not commented on the charges.

Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez, have been charged with accepting bribes to allow undocumented individuals to enter the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the busiest border crossing in the country.

Investigators uncovered evidence of communication between the officers and human traffickers, along with unexplained cash deposits in their bank accounts, which led to the charges.

Prosecutors allege that both officers received thousands of dollars for each vehicle they allowed to pass without proper documentation.

The investigation began after three migrant smugglers implicated the officers during their arrests last year, prompting federal scrutiny.

Upon Almonte's arrest, authorities seized nearly $70,000 in cash linked to his romantic partner, which may lead to additional charges for money laundering and obstruction of justice.

Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden condemned the actions of the officers, emphasizing that their betrayal of duty poses a significant threat to national security.

Rodriguez's attorney has emphasized his client's presumption of innocence, describing him as a hardworking and loyal officer, while the legal status of Almonte's representation remains unclear.

Surveillance footage reportedly captured instances where vehicles were waved through checkpoints with undocumented passengers, indicating a pattern of corruption.

In a related case, former inspector Leonard Darnell George was sentenced to 23 years in prison for accepting bribes to facilitate the entry of undocumented individuals and drug-laden vehicles.

In the past two years, five Customs and Border Protection officers in the San Diego area have faced similar corruption allegations, highlighting ongoing issues within the agency.