A growing network of American citizens is playing a key role in smuggling migrants across the U.S. southern border, making it a booming business despite the increased border enforcement under the Trump administration.
CBS News recently gained rare access to this hidden world, revealing how smugglers like “Joe” operate and profit from the desperate journeys of migrants seeking safety and a better life.
A Desperate Journey Fueled by Hope and Danger
CBS News met with a woman who had just arrived in the U.S. after fleeing violence in Zacatecas, Mexico, a region plagued by cartel-related crime. Her journey was long and costly—she paid over $15,000 to smugglers who helped her cross into the U.S. Once she arrived, she was taken to a safehouse near the New Mexico border and later transported to her final destination.
Her experience is one of many facilitated by a well-organized network of smugglers operating along the nearly 2,000-mile-long southern border. Smugglers like Joe, who spoke with CBS News under conditions of anonymity, play a critical role in this network by transporting migrants deeper into the U.S. after they cross the border.
Meet the Smuggler: How Joe’s Operation Works
Joe, a U.S.-born smuggler from the Southwest, claims to have smuggled close to 500 people into the country. His involvement typically begins once migrants have crossed the border illegally, often with the help of cartels.
Here’s how the process works:
- Receiving GPS Coordinates: Joe is sent the location of migrants by a smuggling organization.
- Picking Up Migrants: He drives to the location, picks them up, and transports them to motels or safehouses in the region.
- Temporary Stay: Migrants are temporarily stashed in these motels before being transported further north to their final destinations.
The Hidden Role of U.S. Motels and Safehouses
One key aspect of the smuggling process involves the use of motels and safehouses. Joe described taking migrants to motels where they stay for a few days before catching rides to other parts of the country. These motels serve as temporary shelters, hidden in plain sight, making it difficult for law enforcement to monitor their operations.
Joe admitted that he knows many Americans view his work as “wrong,” but he justifies it by framing it as a way to help desperate families escape poverty and violence. “I’m doing something right to help a family out,” he said.
A Lucrative Business: The Financial Side of Smuggling
For Joe, smuggling is more about making money than altruism. He began smuggling migrants after losing his job during the pandemic and being introduced to the business by a friend.
Joe revealed that he earns about $2,000 per migrant and sometimes smuggles up to six people a week, making up to $12,000 weekly. He showed CBS News multiple receipts from wire transfers sent by the families of migrants he had helped, with payments ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 per person.
Rising Costs Under the Trump Administration
Since President Trump took office and stepped up immigration enforcement, the price of smuggling migrants into the U.S. has surged. Joe explained that the cost per migrant has doubled or tripled due to tighter border restrictions, increased patrols, and the need for more sophisticated smuggling methods.
Stricter policies and heightened security at the border mean smugglers are taking greater risks, and these increased dangers have led to higher fees. For many migrants, however, the high cost is a risk worth taking in their quest for safety and reunification with family in the U.S.
A Moral Dilemma: Survival or Crime?
Joe acknowledges the moral dilemma of his work. While he recognizes that smuggling people into the U.S. is illegal, he views it as a way to support himself and help others at the same time. “Is it wrong? Yeah, a lot of people think it’s wrong,” he admitted.
But for him, the choice is about survival. Losing his job during the pandemic left him with limited options, and smuggling offered a way to earn a living.
The migrant smuggling network, driven by a combination of economic need, desperation, and criminal opportunity, is complex and difficult to dismantle. With American citizens like Joe playing key roles in the operation and making substantial profits, law enforcement faces an uphill battle in curbing illegal migration.
Despite stricter enforcement under the Trump administration, the rising demand for smuggling services and the increasing costs suggest that the business remains lucrative and resilient. For many migrants, the promise of safety and reunification with loved ones continues to outweigh the risks and financial burden of crossing the border illegally.