Translated by Jesús Ronquillo / Circuito Frontera
After the death of two migrants and four others injured in an unfortunate episode involving members of the National Guard, the state attorney general, Cesar Jauregui Moreno, revealed on Wednesday at a press conference that the smuggling of migrants generates profits of up to $100 million dollars a month for organized crime groups.
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The official described how the increased flow of migrants has reconfigured the scenario at the border, stating that migration is no longer the same as in previous years.
According to his statements, migrants are contributing significantly to the financial strengthening of organized crime groups, a reality that demands an urgent and effective response from authorities.
As Circuito Frontera has documented, according to data from the State Attorney General’s Office and the Security and Justice Roundtable in Ciudad Juarez, 113 victims of this crime had been rescued on this border in early September.
One of the most worrying aspects of this situation is the kidnapping of migrants, since according to the information available to the State Attorney General’s Office, at least 100 people have been arrested for their participation in this type of crime, said Jáuregui Moreno.
The above underscores the magnitude of the problem and the seriousness of the threats faced by people seeking to cross the border in search of a better life, he added.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor for the northern zone, Carlos Manuel Salas, provided additional information on the growing violence in the region.
He noted that the increase in homicides is largely related to migrant smuggling.
According to Salas, between 60 and 70 percent of violent acts have direct links to human trafficking, as well as rivalry between organized crime gangs involved in this activity.
However, amid this bleak outlook, he noted that authorities have made some progress thanks to prevention efforts, analysis and collaboration between different levels of government.
He stated that, in general, crime rates have decreased by 80 to 85 percent, although there is still a long way to go.
This report reveals a harrowing reality on the border, where migration has become a significant source of revenue for organized crime.
The loss of life and the proliferation of violence demand effective responses from authorities, both in prevention and in the prosecution of those who perpetuate these criminal activities.
As such, coordination between different levels of government is presented as a way to reverse this dangerous trend and provide security for migrants seeking a better life on U.S. soil.
