The U.S. Department of Justice has announced an increase in resources dedicated to addressing the rising human smuggling operations along the U.S.-Canada border. This initiative comes amid growing concerns over the escalation of these illicit activities, which have been linked to powerful cartels operating across multiple countries.
The Justice Department’s Task Force Alpha, created in 2021 under the Biden administration. Its stated mission is to counter human-smuggling and trafficking networks from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. This year, Task Force Alpha is taking strategic growth in that direction. They’re zeroing in on piercing through these networks in Colombia and Panama as the strategic pillars of their operation.
Recent reports indicate that the same cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations during the Trump administration are intensifying their operations. Now, they’re setting their sights on states such as New York and Vermont. Operations at the U.S.-Canada border have more than doubled. This increase illustrates the dangerous transformation of human smuggling into a multibillion-dollar enterprise that encompasses drug and firearm trafficking, too.
This announcement reaffirms the Justice Department’s ongoing dedication to enforcing our laws against illegal immigration and human trafficking. Officials stress that these smuggling groups work transnationally, making enforcement efforts more difficult. Recognizing the urgency of the growing threats, the department is bringing new resources to bear to amp up its enforcement efforts against these operations.
Former U.S. official Bondi highlighted the seriousness of the matter when she said,
“It’s a multibillion-dollar business, the smuggling of drugs, guns and humans.” – Pam Bondi (CNN)
She cautioned that perpetrators of such crimes would be punished to the fullest extent.
“If you smuggle human beings, you will be found, you will be prosecuted, and you will be brought to justice.” – Pam Bondi (CNN)
Bondi further expanded the jurisdictional scope of enforcement initiatives when she said,
“It doesn’t matter where you are.” – Pam Bondi (CNN)
With the large increase in unauthorized migrations and attendant increase in clandestine human smuggling operations, federal urgency has been renewed. We understand that the Biden administration is committed to securing the southern border while recognizing the complications of tackling today’s sophisticated cross-border smuggling operations.
