Migrant smugglers use TikTok and YouTube for advertising, says report.

Migrant Smugglers Flaunt Illegal Activities on Social Media

Migrant smugglers have taken to platforms like TikTok and YouTube to advertise their services in a bold and influencer-style manner. These smugglers, who are often connected to drug cartels, showcase their illegal activities through high-quality videos that depict the transportation of migrants across the U.S. southern border, as reported by the New York Post.

The videos feature “coyotes,” as they are known in Spanish, guiding migrants across rivers and capturing moments of joy in “stash houses” along the border.

These smugglers charge exorbitant fees, with prices ranging upwards of $10,000 per person transported. In an interview with the Post, one alleged smuggler revealed that he charges around $10,500 to smuggle a Mexican person over the border.

One popular YouTube channel, @ELINMIGRANTEAVENTURERO or “the migrant adventurer,” boasts over 56,000 subscribers and showcases smugglers in action, including a video featuring a family in the back of a vehicle. The channel claims to merely document the migrant experience.

However, upon further investigation, the Post discovered that Soy Xulen, the channel’s operator, adjusts the smuggling service price based on the migrant’s country of origin.

TikTok also hosts numerous accounts seemingly run by smugglers. These accounts can be found using keywords such as “sueno americano” (“American dream”), “levanto” (“pick up”), and “inmigrantes” (“immigrants”). The videos on TikTok showcase young migrants crossing the Rio Grande and alleged smugglers at border fence holes, as well as stacks of cash in vehicles.

The Post revealed that the coyotes specifically target individuals from El Salvador and Honduras using TikTok hashtags.

According to reports, drug cartels profit approximately billion annually from human smuggling, a significant increase from $500 million in 2018.

Unfortunately, these videos fail to warn migrants about the dangers associated with border crossings, especially when involving smugglers. These dangers can include perilous conditions and even death.

Tragically, last year, 53 migrants, primarily from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, lost their lives after being trapped for hours in a sweltering semi-truck abandoned in a desolate area near San Antonio, where temperatures soared into the 100s. Some of the victims were found with steak seasoning, possibly used to mask the smell of people as the smugglers crossed the border.

In some cases, smugglers demand additional payment halfway through the journey, threatening to harm migrants’ relatives if they refuse to comply.

President Biden’s decision to halt the construction of the border wall and reduce deportations has created an environment that encourages migrants to attempt illegal entry. This situation also provides dangerous smugglers with an opportunity to exploit vulnerable individuals.

“We say don’t come because we will not let you in, but our policies encourage the opposite,” stated RJ Hauman, director of government relations and communications at the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). “Migrants around the world have taken note of this, and they’re using dangerous cartels, smugglers, and traffickers to make the journey in. And the end result can be tragic situations.”