There is “greater migration”, but also “greater arrest” of human traffickers

The United States government reported on Wednesday that, as migration increases, it continues to strengthen actions and arrests against organizations that traffic migrants and operate in Mexico and the Northern Triangle of Central America.

Ian Hanna, co-director of Joint Task Force Alpha, of the US Department of Justice and Homeland Security, said at a press conference on Wednesday that historically there has been an increase in the passage of migrants across the southern border: “We see that there is greater migration, but we also see that there is greater detention.”

In 2021, the Alpha group was created, aimed at stopping human trafficking from Mexico and Central America to the northern country. Since then, according to their spokespersons, prosecutions for serious human trafficking crimes in this country have increased by 27%, while arrests have increased by 25%. More than 305 national and international arrests and 242 convictions have been reported at the national level.

“Our task force is not looking to stop those who are crossing the borders without permission. Rather, we are going after the organizations that are smuggling migrants,” Hanna explained.

For his part, James Hepburn, co-director of the Alpha group, referred to the Mexican cartels that operate on the borders.

“The cartels have now realized the benefits they can derive from human trafficking and are now not only collecting floor fees, but are participating in the movement of people itself.”

The officials emphasized that they continue to work with the Northern Triangle and Mexico in this illicit business and in dangerous migration points such as the Darién Gap, between Panama and Colombia.

The Department of Justice ruled, after President Joe Biden’s announcement to limit asylum to irregular migrants trying to enter the country, once the arrival numbers “exceed the processing capacity” at the entry points “as is happening today.”

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