A strange new trend in border crossings has California officials worried that the vast desert has become a safe haven for smugglers.
Known to many people as “coyotes”, the smugglers will often take a family’s life savings and promise them safe passage to the United States.
History of Coyotes in the United States
Many of the smuggling operations that bring migrants from Mexico to the United States are controlled by the drug cartel.
Paying a coyote for guidance through the U.S. border does not guarantee safe passageway. The smugglers and travelers are often caught and deported by border patrol. As well, the cartel gang members might force migrants into further illegal activity to move their drug supply, resulting in more legal action.
Huge Surge at the Southern Border
Last fall, the Biden administration saw one of the largest surges of migrant crossings that they have ever seen.
In Texas, the border authorities stationed in Texas apprehended more than 225,000 migrants attempting to enter the country in December. The highest total in a single month since 2000.
Freight Trains Used to Transport Migrants
One of the easiest ways that migrants were able to find their way into the United States was to jump on top of freight trains passing through the northern mountains of Mexico.
The trains often have minimal supervision and often just have one conductor who are unable to mitigate the situation.
Increased Migrant Activity Signals Poor Economic Conditions in Southern Countries
Although the movement of people across borders remains constant and ever changing, the conditions causing the surges follow a predictable pattern.
Last fall during the massive surge, US officials say that the economic downturn in Mexico was partly to blame. Poverty, conflicts, inequality, gang violence, and family reunification all contribute to a reason why someone will try and cross the border.
Texas and Florida Officials Cracked Down
Both Florida and Texas passed restrictive laws in the past few months to make it illegal to enter illegally into a foreign country.
Along with guards carrying whips on horses, Texas has done everything it can to make crossing the border as difficult as possible for migrants. Governor Abbot was also criticized for sending thousands of migrants on buses to northern states like Illinois and New York.
Border Crossings Remain Low Around the Country
Since December of this year, the total number of border crossings by migrants is down by around 40%, with a massive dip in the month of March.
The Border Patrol in the south apprehended almost 137,000 illegal migrants. This number is down from around 141,000 in February, and continues to decline.
California Desert a Popular New Crossing
A new shift in movement shows that smugglers have identified a weakness in the California and Arizona deserts.
Known for being a harsh and unforgiving climate, the areas have a high level of fatalities for people brave enough to attempt to walk across the barren valleys.
Border Patrol Blames Mexican Officials for the Changes in Movement
Although Texas Governor Greg Abbott takes credit for reducing the amount of migrants coming through his state, Customs and Border Protection Officials have a different opinion.
They say that Mexican enforcement has actually played the biggest role in the change.
Changes in International Travel Laws Partly To Blame
The border patrol agents and customs officials who have boots on the ground in these locations have noticed a strange trend. They say that it’s partly to blame by the changes that Mexico has made to their rules surrounding air travel.
They say that the recent surge in smugglers in California and Arizona are caused by people from South America and Asia flying to Tijuana or Mexicali and then being smuggled across the California border. The movement is caused by people avoiding Mexican checkpoints.
The Valley of the Moon Crossing in California
The area that has seen the largest number of crossings increased is east of San Diego called the Valley of the Moon.
Reporters from The Washington Post landed in the area in an attempt to gain more knowledge of the story.
Border Patrol Agents Are Anticipating More Migrants
Agents along these dry and desolate areas that migrants are moving through have set up impromptu checkpoints with porta potties and water.
The people moving through on foot are not running from border agents, instead, they’re actually looking for officials to turn themselves into. Being taken into custody by border agents is the first step to seek legal asylum in America. They hope to be processed by the courts and released with a date to reappear.
