The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged more than 20 individuals with using social media to entice Arizonans to participate in illegal human smuggling on Tuesday. The Justice Department highlighted an example of criminals using Snapchat, the multimedia instant messaging app, to promise to pay for Arizonans to help smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona filed 13 indictments containing 22 charges of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit against 22 individuals, alleging the smugglers “utilized social media, including Snapchat, to recruit” people in Arizona, before then generally switching to messaging applications like WhatsApp “to coordinate the logistics” of the crimes.
One example of a Snapchat solicitation, highlighted by the DOJ in a press release, promises, “[a]ll you have to do is drive or you can send some one and both get paid.” The smuggler behind the advertisement claimed respondents could earn up to $20,000 for “a few hours of driving or sending me a person who can drive.”
“I guide [you] the whole process,” the smuggler promised in the ad, “everything is secure.” The criminal added that a coordinator would be in communication “the whole time.”
U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino warned that “alien smuggling organizations” employ “coordinators” who “arrange for drivers using the anonymity of social media” in a post on X, formerly Twitter, and thanked U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for “finding the coordinators” in this case.
Within alien smuggling organizations, "coordinators" arrange for drivers using the anonymity of social media. We apprehend and prosecute many drivers. Thanks to @CBPArizona and @USBPChiefTCA for finding the coordinators and holding them responsible too. https://t.co/yXe7mgaoDZ
— U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino (@USAttyRestaino) August 23, 2023
The DOJ explained that smuggling coordinators “often recruit juveniles and young adults” with social media posts “that glamorize alien smuggling” with false claims participants will earn easy money without criminal consequences.
Suspects charged in these indictments were identified using cell phone data and information from their social media accounts. If convicted, those indicted face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Tucson Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent John Modlin previously advised American citizens to be wary of such advertisements, warning that criminals will “exploit anyone to do their dirty work” and urged them to “[r]ecognize the traps on social media.”
Following this wave of indictments, Modlin doubled down.
“Beware of criminal organizations using social media to lure you or loved ones into smuggling operations,” wrote Modlin on X. He promised those participating in human smuggling schemes will face the “full extent of the law.” Modlin added, “[d]on’t be fooled by false promises – smuggling is a felony.”
Beware of criminal organizations using social media to lure you or loved ones into smuggling operations. The full extent of the law will be used to prosecute those who violate our laws, much like these 22 human smugglers. Don’t be fooled by false promises – smuggling is a felony. https://t.co/tbZjPjCiF7
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) August 23, 2023
Though the indictments concern the coordinators responsible for the smuggling arrangements, Modlin has continued to post examples of individuals arrested in the act of human smuggling to social media.
Modlin reported that a U.S. citizen was arrested in Benson on August 8, after five smuggled migrants were discovered in the back seat and cargo area of his SUV. Also, on August 8, a Cuban citizen with pending immigration status in the United States was arrested in Tombstone after allegedly smuggling four migrants in the back of another SUV. The next day, a 17-year-old was caught allegedly smuggling four Guatemalan citizens south of Benson.
A Willcox Station agent stopped a suspicious vehicle south of Benson, AZ, on August 9. The agent determined the driver, a 17-year-old U.S. citizen, was smuggling four Guatemalan citizens.
Tucson Sector agents continue to encounter juveniles recruited for #HumanSmuggling. pic.twitter.com/fdBK4qWSiC
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) August 18, 2023
Modlin also reported that a U.S. citizen was arrested after five migrants were found hiding under a tarp in the cab of a pickup truck in Tombstone on August 12. Another U.S. citizen was arrested when seven more migrants were discovered in a sedan outside Why, Arizona.
The federal government considers human smuggling to be legally distinct from human trafficking. Human smuggling “involves the provision of a service,” typically the purchase of illegal entry into the United States, while human trafficking “involves exploiting men, women, or children for the purpose of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation.” However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warns that “the crime may start out as human smuggling but quickly turn into human trafficking.”
Neither the DOJ nor CBP clarified to The Arizona Sun Times if any of the 22 charged with Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit are foreign nationals by press time.
CBP recently reported a 33 percent spike in illegal immigration, with agents experiencing 183,503 migrant encounters nationwide last month.
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Tom Pappert is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Tom on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Snapchat User” by ThoroughlyReviewed. CC BY 2.0.
