Arizona Agriculture Employee Arrested for Alleged Human Smuggling

A now-former employee of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Joshua Castro, has been arrested at the southern border and faces federal charges for allegedly smuggling two Mexican nationals into the United States. Castro, who was off-duty but wearing his state-issued uniform, was apprehended by Border Patrol agents after being spotted transporting the individuals, who admitted to paying thousands of dollars to be smuggled across the border. Following his arrest, Castro was immediately terminated from his position as a produce inspector, and the incident has cast uncertainty over Governor Katie Hobbs' nominee to lead the agency. The case highlights ongoing concerns about human smuggling at Arizona’s southern border and the involvement of individuals in positions of public trust.