From video game chats to social media to nightclub meet-ups. Human smuggling is not as common as you think. Smuggling operations are taking advantage of the crisis along the southern border to tempt people from all walks of life to risk their freedom for quick cash.
“We have people coming to the border to smuggle illegal immigrants from Louisiana, Florida, California and New York,” said Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “These are not typical criminals, they don't have criminal histories, and they are first-time offenders.”
According to DPS, more than 7,300 people have been arrested on smuggling-related charges since Operation Lone Star began in March 2021. The ages of those arrested range from 13 to 77, according to DPS data. While smuggling is not a new problem in Texas, Olivares said there has been a shift in the types of people who seek to profit from the smuggling trade.
“We arrested lawyers, medical personnel and even soldiers. We arrested one of the National Guard members involved in human smuggling,” Olivarez said.
When KPRC 2 recently visited Kinney County near Eagle Pass, a Galveston County sheriff's deputy pulled over the 19-year-old driver of a vehicle who initially refused to stop. Once the car stopped, the driver fled with one of his passengers. The remaining two passengers immediately surrendered. Deputies and state troopers eventually arrested the driver, Kevin Sanchez, and a third passenger.
“The driver said he wasn't driving, but the way he got up from the driver's seat clearly showed that he was lying,” said Galveston County Sheriff's Deputy Gabriel Sanchez.
Sheriff's deputies said all three passengers appeared to be in the country illegally and were turned over to Border Patrol agents. Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe said Sanchez was arrested and charged with smuggling and fleeing from police.
Sanchez lives on Houston's west side and denied smuggling when KPRC 2 tried to speak with him at his apartment. Sanchez said the men in her car were hitchhikers she met at a gas station and were headed to Houston.
“Why didn't you stop when the police tried to pull you over? Why did the passenger try to run away?” asked KPRC 2's Detective Robert Arnold.
“I was just scared because I didn't know why I was being pulled over by a car. It was so scary. I've never really been in a situation like that, that's why,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said he was afraid of being shot by police and reiterated that he was just doing the men a favor by giving them a ride.
“Do you usually pick up strangers in your car?'' Arnold asked.
“Yeah, I used to be like that too. I'm a good person and I try to serve people,” Sanchez said.
Dennis Ahern, a former Customs and Border Protection official, is now a defense attorney in Houston, where he represents several people charged with smuggling.
“How many of your customers are under 18 or under 21?'' Arnold asked.
“I would say it's probably 30 to 35 percent of those young people,” Ahern said.
“Are you getting more customers?” Arnold asked.
“Oh, yeah, so far, foreign smuggling cases are outnumbering drug cases,” Arhaan said.
“How do they recruit these young kids?” Arnold asked.
“I liken this to an intelligence operation to recruit human sources,” Ahern said. “They find out what motivates them to make that decision, whether it's drugs, sex, money,” Ahern said. “I've seen them communicate through Xbox, PlayStation, and Snapchat many times.”
Olivares also said smugglers have become very adept at recruiting young drivers through social media. Ahern and Olivarez said many smugglers create the illusion of low risk to lure drivers. Potential drivers are told they will be paid upwards of $500 per person and all they have to do is pick up two, three or four people and drive from one city in Texas to another in Texas. Just drive to the city of. They never have to cross borders.
“There's a clear lack of awareness of the consequences and a clear lack of awareness of understanding exactly what they're doing,” Mr Ahern said.
Some of those facing state smuggling charges seemed confused by the law, while others said they were victims of over-policing along the border.
“I didn't do anything wrong, but I lost a lot in this case,” Matthew Phillips said.
Phillips was arrested in Kinney County in 2022 and charged with smuggling.
“I didn't cross the border, I didn't smuggle anyone, I didn't hide anyone, I didn't run away from anyone. So there was no violation of the law,” Phillips said.
Phillips, a traveling salesman from Houston, said he was just picking up hitchhikers on his way from Eagle Pass to San Antonio.
“I was in a dark place in the middle of nowhere and I saw some people and thought, 'They must be in trouble.' So I pulled up and they said they were going to San Antonio. , I thought it was great because that's where I go and they keep me awake,” Phillips said.
Phillips is fighting the charges and said the legal battle has taken a huge financial and personal toll on him.
“There's a stigma attached to being a human smuggler that I don't deserve,” Phillips said. “My daughter says she won't talk to me anymore. That's a big deal, it devastated me.”
Phillips is scheduled to return to court this summer.
Since Texas launched Operation Lone Star, state troopers have made more than 40,000 arrests and recorded more than 37,000 total felony charges.
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