After the election, all eyes are on the border, with fears that the cartel will force migrants to cross before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Arizona passed legislation giving local law enforcement the authority to act as immigration officials, allowing them to arrest migrants crossing the border illegally. Additionally, Trump stated that he would rely on local law enforcement to carry out migrant deportations along the border.
Increase in smuggling operations
Nonetheless, the Tucson Sector in Cochise County has seen an increase in smuggling activity, with up to ten human smuggling attempts per day.
On Wednesday, NewsNation crews followed the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office as officers executed a search warrant at a so-called “stash house.” Officers discovered nine undocumented migrants, two of whom were juveniles, hiding in the detached garage, which was barely large enough to accommodate a single vehicle.
The shelter was described as smelling “putrid” and “almost intolerable,” with discarded clothing and food littered throughout.
What’s happening at the southern border?
Undocumented immigrants are jumping over the border wall in Naco, Arizona. NewNation crews have seen this happen several times, documenting migrants crossing and disappearing on their way to these alleged “stash locations.”
These migrants are typically transported north to hubs in Tucson or Phoenix, according to reports. This is how the cartel, a $13 billion industry, generates revenue.
And now that Trump has promised immediate border solutions, including migrant deportation, they will find it increasingly difficult to make a profit.
“They are going to push hard right now. The cartels understand they have to. They have a president coming in who has stated unequivocally that, based on his track record, he will secure this border,” Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels said. “He’ll declare it an emergency.”
‘Cartels aren’t stupid’
Dannels, a Republican, explained that the cartels “aren’t stupid” and will push their business across the border as much as possible before Trump takes office.
Trump’s strong showing in Texas border counties represents a shift among Latino voters, with 55% supporting him, nearly doubling his 2020 numbers. He won 14 of 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, challenging Democrats’ traditional dominance.
Although Arizona’s new law allows officers to act as border agents, Dannels is concerned about its implementation because no additional funding or resources were allocated with the legislation, particularly since Trump stated that he would rely heavily on local law enforcement to carry out mass deportations.
Dannels also expressed concern, stating that they have not received any guidance on how any of this will be implemented or their actual role.
