Human smuggling dangers increase with summer heat

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Homeland Security Investigations emphasizes the increasing danger of human smuggling with the summer heat.

Human smuggling is a multi-billion dollar industry with thousands of migrants entering the United States illegally every year. HSI is asking families in the Rio Grande Valley not to hire a human smuggler to bring their family members into the country because of the dangers it poses.

"Family members here should not contract a human smuggler to bring your family into the United States," HSI Special Agent, Mark Lippa said. "These human smuggling organizations, treat the migrants they smuggle like they're a commodity.

Lippa addressed concerns over heat during human smuggling attempts. He said HSI encounters many cases of heat exhaustion, dehydration and death.

Box cars and tractor-trailers are common places to hide migrants that are being smuggled into the country. Lippa said the temperatures in those places can reach 120 degrees during the summer.

"Oftentimes we see situations where migrants are put in situations where they're not provided with sufficient water. We've also seen situations where migrants are placed in the backs of tractor-trailers or box cars where temperatures can easily reach 120 degrees," Lippa said.

Other forms of transportation include boats and planes, which also include other dangers. In 2022, a watercraft attempting to take migrants from South Padre Island to Corpus Christi capsized resulting in the death of four migrants.

In a news release provided by HSI, Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee said, "Transnational criminal organizations treat migrants as commodities for financial gain, with little regard for their safety."

Homeland Security Investigations is asking anyone aware of human smuggling occurring to call their tip line at 1-866-347-2423.