Miami.— Transfer migrants in trailers towards America This is a decades-old practice, but the risks, costs and hierarchies have changed.
One expatriate who traveled by trailer but declined to be named said that the cost of such a transfer ranged between four and 5 thousand dollars (between 80 thousand 492 and 100 thousand 615 pesos).
However, everything depends on where the relocation begins, whether it’s from Central America, southern Mexico, or near the border, says one’s cousin, Abigail. human traffickersOr Polaro, and who requested anonymity.
“It also depends on what route they want and if it’s going to be, for example, crossing a bus bravo river“, he says. Previously, coyotes were the ones who controlled the business, but with the rise of drug trafficking, that has also changed. In the human trafficking business, according to records from officials on both sides of the border. The most involved are the remains of a drug cartel. Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel,
“Those buttos are in everything, they don’t miss a thing and have no other way than to pay what they ask for or give them a cent. Sometimes they keep their men as smugglers, but here they have the law and there is no way to do so. The government—federal and state—is pure crap, they’re not good for moms,” describes Abigail.
According to the current population survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, a crossing from Mexico to a neighboring country in 1992, by trailer, crossing the Rio Grande or by other means, costs an average of $300 (6 thousand 37 pesos) . , at today’s exchange rate). Twenty years later, in 2012, the same type of crossing cost between 2,000 and 3,000 dollars (between 40,246 and 60,369 pesos). Today, depending on the type of crossing, it costs between 5,000 and 15,000 dollars (up to 301,846 pesos).
In this way, the trailer in which 53 migrants died, 27 of them were from Mexico, it was a business of about one million dollars (20 million 130 thousand pesos).
Many factors influence price changes, from increasing difficulty Overseas CrossingStrengthening border security in the United States, even those controlling the illegal business of human trafficking.
According to the expatriate traveling by trailer, the price also varies depending on the nationality of the person who is being transferred. Even then Mexican For example, they charge less than Central American.
Also read: Migrants die in accidents and violence
Despite the high cost, expatriates are willing to make any sacrifices, remaining in debt for decades, to achieve the American dream. Because if earlier they could start business in their native countries with 15 thousand dollars, today they cannot do it. “Whatever you put in, now you have to pay for a flat and pay for security and still, be on the lookout so they don’t kidnap or rob you or any of your family. Today in Gabacho Risking it to go is more business”, Lydia and Jorge, a married couple originally from El Salvador, tell this newspaper.
Neither the risk nor the tragic cases like Monday will deter those who want to reach the United States.
“These people – migrants – are desperate. It’s very easy to say ‘don’t cross, wait’, but if they don’t cross they’re going to die of hunger or violence,” says Enrique Morones, director of Janet Unida and founder emeritus of Angels de la Frontera. He believes that the way migrants traveling in trailers are treated is getting worse and worse.
“They treat them worse than animals, they don’t take precautions.” Putting steak seasoning on them to hide their smell is new, but he’s not surprised. He says the smugglers will do anything to “seal the deal”. On top of everything, “now it is much more expensive to rent a crossing like this, and nothing is safer”.
But their lives in their native places are also at risk, he explains. At least by traveling they hope to get a better quality of life.
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