I-10 A Main Route for Human Smuggling

Oct. 20th 2010

In San Antiono, City and State officials gathered to discuss the topic of human smuggling. The statistics and insight gained from this meeting was intriuging and possibly helpful for the cases of human smuggling in South Texas.

State Senator Leticia Van de Putte says people often confuse human trafficking with human smuggling and think the victims of it are in the U.S. illegally. But Van de Putte says most victims are in a much different circumstance.

"About 60% are runaway teenagers, from other states or within Texas," Van de Putte told News 4 WOAI. "And they are being exploited. They are being abused.

Plus, the problem is closer than you might think. The Department of Health and Human Services says 25% of all human trafficking victims are in Texas and the I-10 corridor serves as one of the main routes in the U.S.[1]

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[1] http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/I-10-corridor-a-main-route-for-human-trafficking/gIGQ7hZF1U6dE8FTzjlQDA.cspx

Four Arrested in Human Smuggling Attempt

Oct. 27th 2010

In an attempt to cross the Sarita checkpoint, four people from Houston were arrested and jailed in the Rio Grande Valley today after Border Patrol discovered nine illegal immigrants in two separate vans. Although the group tried to separate by a three hour drive, the agents at the Sarita checkpoint caught the pairs.

Nine immigrants total were caught, five in one van and four in the other. All four have been denied bond and are now in custody in a Rio Grande Valley jail.

Comments: This report indicates that although smugglers are attempting to fool the guards, many of them are not deceived, so this mini- bust, as small as it is, is actually a good sign; the increased training and technology is working. If trends continue, then there may be a possible break in the number of humans smuggled across our borders.

Source: http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=531940