Texas DPS stops female driver smuggling immigrants across the state as driver tries flirting trooper
Female driver, 38, FLIRTS with Texas trooper who pulled her over while smuggling ‘immigrants’ from El Salvador in her car: She told cop he was handsome – but then got arrested
- Lidia Elizabeth Badillo, 38, was arrested and charged by the Texas Department of Public Safety for human trafficking after being apprehended by a trooper
- Two female illegal immigrants from El Salvador were found in her car that Badillo intended to transport with another driver to Corpus Christi, Texas
- While talking to the trooper, she heard him flirt and tell him he had nice eyes – but the officer puts her in handcuffs soon after
A female driver tried to flirt with a Texan trooper who pulled her over — before discovering two El Salvadorian immigrants smuggled into the back of her car.
Lidia Elizabeth Badillo, 38, of Edinburg, Texas, was arrested last week and charged by the Texas Department of Public Safety after being apprehended by an officer.
Two female illegal immigrants from El Salvador were also found in her car as Badillo reportedly planned to transport them to Corpus Christi, Texas with the help of another female driver.
In a video released by the DPS and posted to Twitter by DPS Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez, de Badillo tried to fight his way into being arrested by telling the officer that he had nice eyes and that he was handsome.
The comment caught the officer off guard — but he quickly got back on track and discovered that the two young women in the car were carrying fraudulent Texas driver’s licenses to get through a Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas.
For your eyes only: Lidia Elizabeth Badillo, 38, was arrested and charged by the Texas Department of Public Safety for human trafficking after being apprehended by a trooper, but she tried flirting first
Only had eyes for you: While talking to the trooper, she heard him flirt and tell him he had nice eyes
Sad eyes: The tactic didn’t work and Badillo was arrested soon after, but the officer handcuffed her soon after
Handcuffed: Badillo was handcuffed after the officer disbelieved her story
When asked if the driver’s licenses on display were legitimate, Badillo told the trooper she didn’t know.
Badillo shared how she and her two friends met four months ago at “Club Fuego” and went for a drink at a local bar.
Just as the officer indicates how he is going to run the IDs through his verification system, Badillo tries to distract him by flattering him.
“I’m looking at your eyes, sir,” Badillo told the trooper. “I’m looking at your eyes because you’re pretty pretty.”
Badillo then admitted that she picked up the two women from a storehouse, where weapons and supplies are hidden, in Mission, Texas.
When asked if the driver’s licenses on display were legitimate, Badillo told the trooper she didn’t know. There were not
Two female illegal immigrants from El Salvador were found in her car that Badillo intended to transport with another driver to Corpus Christi, Texas
As her plan was unraveling, the officer told her to turn around and quickly handcuffed her.
Badillo now faces two counts of human trafficking, while the two illegal immigrants have been referred to the US Border Patrol.
According to Texas DPS, the method of bringing the women across the state is common, with many of them later forced into debt bondage and victims of sex trafficking.
The bust is part of Operation Lone Star, launched by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who introduced Operation Lone Star in March 2021 to curb the rise of illegal immigration across the state.
The operation covers 48 provinces, mostly along the border with Mexico, and directs the DPS to use all available resources to prevent criminal activities such as human trafficking and smuggling, as well as criminal offenses.
Badillo tried her best to flirt with the Texas trooper, but failed after his suspicions were voiced
Eyes hurt: Badillo, 38, faces two charges of human smuggling, while the two illegal immigrants have been referred to US Border Patrol