Exorbitant fees, scams and risk of death: this is how the “polleros” cross paths with migrants in the USA

In their desire to seek a better quality of life outside their country of origin, thousands of people undertake daily long and risky journeys to try to reach the United States. Although the migration crisis is not a current phenomenon, new policies in this area and the impending technological advancement have changed the means by which migrants seek to achieve their goal.

Although over the years migrants have tried to organize themselves into caravans to enter Mexico and the United States together, one of the main risks faced by those who do not join these massive movements is precisely human traffickers.

And it is that the criminal organizations that operate in Mexico and the people who have found a “business opportunity” with the need for migrants to constantly leave their country of origin offer their services to transit through Mexican territory but also to Cross the borderwith all the risks involved in such a journey.

In border towns such as Tapachula, Chiapas in southern Mexico or Piedras Negras in Coahuila in the north, it is common to see thousands of migrants trained in the stations of the National Institute of Migration (INM) or the Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees (Comar) waiting for their respective permits to regularize their stay – temporary or permanent – on Mexican territory.

However, the inefficiency these institutions have shown in serving the thousands of applicants as well as the endless bureaucracy that pervades the process it has led thousands of migrants to seek other methods of realizing the long-awaited “American Dream”.

that is how human traffickers have taken advantage of these circumstances “sell” migrants the possibility of crossing the border at exuberant prices which, moreover, do not even guarantee their own safety.

Thanks to social networks, the so-called “polleros” have found a tool to attract migrants with publications that, although at first glance seem “attractive” or “safe”, can lead to scams.

In April 2021, a media investigation BNC News found that in groups of Facebook where people turn for information on immigration procedures, Human traffickers openly advertise their services.

In these publications, the “polleros” propose “safe journeys” for a price ranging from 8,000 USD to 12,000 USD. Migrants reportedly pay smugglers approximately 200,000 Mexican pesos for a trip that not only does not guarantee their arrival in the United States, but also violates their safety due to travel conditions or the risk of being recruited by organized crime.

Similarly, in a recent episode of the medium The universal A particular pamphlet was published which, according to the story, was distributed to migrants trying to regularize their stay in the city ​​of tapachulaChiapas.

“Travels to the Frontier and the Friend of the United States, this is not a scamwe have recommendations”, were the words that a young Honduran addressed to the migrants who are concentrated in the Miguel Hidalgo Park of the aforementioned border town.

The brochures, without any logo, They offer air or bus travel to Ciudad Juárez, Reynosa, Tijuana, Piedras Negras and Hermosillo. The information in this brochure even includes the telephone number of a supposed lawyer who processes the necessary documents before the National Institute of Migration (INM) and the Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees (Comar).

According The universalair travel from Tapachula and to any of the mentioned border towns in northern Mexico it would cost migrants US$4,000inasmuch as per bus would be 2,000,500 USD for those who do not have their documentation in order.

If, on the contrary, the migrants have an INM or COMAR card, the journey would cost $3 million at the borders of the state of Tamaulipas or Sonora.