What offense is committed when a man is paid to bring three people across the border and lets them go?

The offense committed in this scenario is smuggling of persons. Smuggling of persons typically involves the act of facilitating the illegal entry of individuals across international borders in exchange for a fee. In this case, the man is paid to bring three people across the border; even if he allows them to go once they arrive, the initial act of bringing them across the border constitutes smuggling.

In contrast, human trafficking focuses primarily on the exploitation of individuals through coercion, fraud, or force, often for purposes such as labor or sexual exploitation. While there may be overlaps, the key element of trafficking involves exploitation, which is not explicitly indicated in the scenario provided.

Illegal immigration refers to the act of residing in a country without the legal right to do so, but this term does not capture the active role of bringing people across the border for compensation. Similarly, border violation typically refers to unauthorized crossing or presence within a nation’s borders but does not encompass the facilitation or assistance aspect implied in the man being paid to transport individuals. Therefore, smuggling of persons is the most accurate and relevant offense in this context.