Arrr! The scurvy cartel's wretched human smuggling be changin' border towns into fierce battlefields!
2024-01-21
Arrr, ye scurvy Mexican drug cartels be rakin' in the doubloons from them illegal migrants crossin' the treacherous U.S.-Mexico border! They be spreadin' their deadly crimes 'n chaos to the towns nearby. Shiver me timbers, 'tis a cursed mess!
Mexican drug cartels are profiting from the influx of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, turning border towns into war zones. Criminal organizations charge migrants to guide them across the border, extort them, or kidnap them, creating a multimillion-dollar illegal business. Different cartels are now fighting each other and challenging Mexican authorities for control of smuggling routes. Violent gunfights between cartels and the Mexican army are becoming more frequent, with videos of armed men and burning vehicles circulating online. The main international bridge between Sonoyta and Lukeville remains closed for days after these incidents. The Tucson sector, where Lukeville sits, is one of the busiest on the southern border, with over 300,000 migrant crossings in FY 2023. Kidnappings of migrants by cartel members are also occurring, with victims forced to pay ransom to secure their release. A cartel member overseeing human smuggling operations in Ciudad Juárez stated that the illegal business around immigration is now more profitable than trafficking cocaine. The attorney general in Chihuahua acknowledged a spike in homicides due to the increasing number of migrants and the illegal business surrounding them. Overall, the U.S.-Mexico border saw record-setting numbers of migrant apprehensions in 2023. Migrants, fleeing similar situations in their home countries, now face extortion and kidnapping in Mexico. The turf war between cartels for control of the human smuggling business has extended to U.S. border cities. The situation is causing immense suffering for migrants and further destabilizing the border region.