The Associated Press
 
PHOENIX - An immigrant activist has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle two undocumented Phoenix residents back into the United States from Mexico in the trunk of her car, authorities said.

Ana Lizabeth Roman de Harvey, 40, of Phoenix, was charged Friday with felony alien smuggling and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to make illegal entry.

Roger Mair, a spokesman for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection in Tucson, said Roman de Harvey faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the felony charge.

Ramon de Harvey was upset after a meeting Monday with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, city officials and other Latino leaders about a March 28 incident where at least eight juveniles were sent back to Mexico because they could not prove they were living in the United States legally.

The students were dropped at the border in Nogales and sent across to Mexico after they were questioned by immigration agents outside a party in a largely Mexican immigrant enclave in northeast Phoenix.

Since then, immigration officials said 19 youths have been sent back to Mexico after they were found living in Phoenix without papers.

They said all of the youths had gang ties and were removed as part of ongoing efforts to deport undocumented gang members.