Social media usage is still ubiquitous and widespread nowadays. Apps such as TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and others are free and accessible to the public.
People may use social media to remain in touch with loved ones or even advertise their enterprises, which are obvious benefits.
Every coin, however, has two sides to it. Predators and other terrible people can use social media to harm others.
This is especially true when it comes to illicit border crossings between the United States and Mexico. Human smugglers utilize the aforementioned social networking platforms and others to dupe teenagers into undertaking their dirty business.
$100 million *per week* on human smuggling ~ ~ Biden's Open Border Policies lead to a cash boom for cartel smugglers pic.twitter.com/t87dFUACxc
— SgtPepper1964 (@SPepper1964) April 27, 2022
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, those interested in smuggling illegal immigrants across the southern border are recruiting teenagers for the job.
Human traffickers, of course, aren’t being completely transparent about what they’re enticing these young people into. To tempt minors, predators of this type publish employment adverts for driving jobs, as well as images of money.
This has become such an issue that officials at the southern border apprehended a 13-year-old boy for his involvement in people smuggling.
It goes without saying that crossing encounters with people traffickers and illegal immigrants is extremely risky for minors. These children may be murdered, kidnapped, trafficked, or otherwise victimized.
To make matters worse, many of the people smugglers who use social media to reach out to teenagers are themselves members of gangs and cartels.
Teens who are persuaded to transport illegal immigrants into the United States usually wind up in San Antonio, Houston, or Austin.
Texas state troopers have been operating along the border for security purposes for over a year. Texas, on the other hand, is largely on its own without federal support, barring assistance from other states.
Human smuggling is a severe crime with serious ramifications.
As a result, the Texas Department of Public Safety is warning youngsters about social media tactics designed to lure them into human smuggling operations.
Parents may also assist on this front by ensuring that their children’s internet activities are monitored. One can never be too cautious these days when it comes to making sure everything is legal.
