Migrants Found Trapped Inside Abandoned Train Compartment
Border Patrol agents in Cotulla, Texas rescued 20 migrants found stowed in a locked train car originating from Mexico and Guatemala. All 20 were determined to be in good health after being provided medical assistance despite temperatures as high as 100 degrees.
The rescue occurred around 6:30 on the morning of Friday, July 12th. The train compartment was found locked, with no means by which the individuals trapped inside could free themselves.
According to a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protections all individuals were processed according to their respective status.
Border Patrol is treating the incident of a likely attempt at human smuggling. Methods of human smuggling can be extremely dangerous for those who partake. Migrants expose themselves to the possibility of being abandoned by their smugglers, extreme temperatures, dehydration, assault and more.
USCBP continues to warn migrants against the “lies of smugglers” in their June monthly update release, who they say abandon their patrons for profit in the most remote and dangerous locations.
A careless, money-hungry human smuggler, often referred to by migrants as a “guia” (guide) is featured on the webpage of the Department of Homeland Security. There, smugglers are described as jeopardizing human lives for monetary gain.
Their job can include anything from providing false documentation to migrants, transporting people in automobiles, boats, or boxcars, exploiting legal ports of trade and travel while ultimately charging individuals exorbitant amounts of money. Paying a higher price can grant a higher chance at getting to the destination–but the methods employed may also carry a higher chance of death.
While the individuals rescued by Laredo Border Patrol were found well, many have suffered more tragic fates, including death–often from suffocation, being overheated, and dehydration.
Human smuggling is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar business which has morphed from scattered freelancers, to a sophisticated network to which almost anyone can gain access. In response to the increased prominence of smugglers at the U.S–Mexico border, DHS has said they are focusing on “criminal investigations into smuggling networks that pose national security and public safety risks, jeopardize lives, or engage in violence, abuse or extortion.”
Marboreth Cataño | Immigration CorrespondentMarboreth Cataño is a senior at the University of Chicago pursuing a degree in Public Policy with a specialization in International Development with minors in Anthropology and Spanish. She has lived in the Chicago suburbs her entire life and is deeply passionate about shedding light on the powerful and emotional stories of the vast immigrant population in the Chicagoland area. She believes visibility is the key to enacting change that reflects the needs of everyone—not just those with the loudest voices. The child of two proud Mexican immigrants, Marboreth has always had a special interest in how migrant communities find ways to create a home away from home to navigate the harsh realities of U.S. immigration policies, especially since these regulations often result in the separation of families and lives spent in “golden cages.” In her position with the Latina Republic, Marboreth hopes to give a voice to Latin American immigrants who contribute to the culture, diversity, and prosperity of Chicago.
