Traffickers drug children to smuggle them across U.S. borders, leaving officials scrambling and young lives in peril.
At a Glance
- Children as young as eight are drugged to facilitate illegal entry into the U.S.
- Smugglers pose as family members, often using forged documents.
- Numerous incidents have been reported in California and Arizona.
- The fate of these children remains uncertain, with risks of exploitation looming large.
- Biden-Harris administration faces escalating pressure as unaccompanied minors surge.
Children Drugged for Illegal Entry
Border Patrol agents have reported numerous cases where children as young as eight have been drugged and smuggled into the United States by traffickers posing as their parents or family members. These dangerous individuals frequently use forged documents to deceive authorities. Recent incidents in California and Arizona have shed light on this harrowing tactic used by smugglers. These children are often sedated, making it easier for traffickers to pass through the border undetected.
Authorities have managed to rescue several children in separate smuggling incidents. On August 29, Marlen Contreras-Lopez was apprehended in San Luis, Arizona, with two drugged children. Initially, Contreras-Lopez claimed to be related to the children, but upon closer scrutiny, she was found to be lying. The children revealed they had been given sleep aids to ensure they remained silent during the journey.
Uncertainty and Exploitation Risks
The fate of these trafficked children is highly concerning. Many are feared to end up in child labor and sex trafficking rings. Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol chief of California’s El Centro sector, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “Sometimes we encounter criminal actions so horrendous, they defy human decency.” The rising number of children being forced into these perilous journeys raises questions about how safe they are once they reach the border.
“Sometimes we encounter criminal actions so horrendous, they defy human decency,” said Gregory Bovino.
The Biden-Harris administration is under increasing pressure as the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border illegally continues to rise. Reports indicate that many of these children go unaccounted for after being released to sponsors, posing significant risks to their safety and well-being. As of May 2024, 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children were released to sponsors without court appearances, losing contact with federal authorities.
Smuggling Rings and Fake Family Units
Smugglers increasingly pose as family units to “recycle” children, exploiting them over and over to gain entry into the U.S. Authorities are continually discovering fraudulent documents and fake family units, pointing to the sophisticated and relentless nature of these criminal organizations. According to Border Patrol, transnational criminal organizations coach migrants to use children as a means of securing entry into the United States.
CBP agents are trained to identify fake family units to prevent child trafficking. Despite their efforts, these smuggling operations continue to take advantage of loopholes. The smuggling rings profit immensely from these illegal activities, which fund other illicit operations. Human trafficking has become a lucrative business, generating an estimated $150 billion annually, with cartels capturing nearly 60% of unaccompanied minors crossing the border.
