By Ike Bendavid
Published: Mar. 26, 2026 at 12:06 PM EDT|Updated: Mar. 26, 2026 at 5:15 PM EDT
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A prominent leader for advocacy group Migrant Justice has pleaded not guilty to federal human smuggling charges after his arrest early Thursday.
A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the courthouse during Thursday afternoon’s hearing for Jose Ignacio De La Cruz De La Rosa, 30, also known as Nacho, who was arrested on Thursday morning on his way to work at a construction site.
It comes after he was detained last summer near the border in Richford with his stepdaughter. Federal authorities said De La Rosa allegedly helped people cross the border and helped settle them in the United States.
Court records show De La Rosa allegedly participated in a multiyear conspiracy to bring illegal immigrants into the U.S. He’s also accused of producing fraudulent identity documents, including driver’s privilege cards, a form of state ID available to migrants. Court records indicate he got $500 for every card he provided. He’s also accused of taking learner’s privilege driver tests for other people.
The government provided evidence from Nacho’s phone, which they allege shows communications with immigrants and screenshots of maps with pickup spots.
De La Rosa is also a leader of the advocacy group Migrant Justice. The group’s Will Lambek did not answer whether they knew about what De La Cruz is accused of, instead calling it scare tactics by the government.
“We know that there were already allegations made, and despite those allegations, Nacho was freed last year, and he has been here in Vermont ever since,” Lambek said.
The charges made public Thursday include more substantial details and information compared to De La Rosa’s first detention last summer.
One other person is accused of the same crime, but their name was redacted from court paperwork.
De La Rosa is scheduled to appear back in court next Thursday. Until then, he remains behind bars.
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