Texas Human Smuggling Law Targets U.S. Drivers Lured by Cartels on Social Media

Texas has seen a sharp increase in human smuggling arrests following the launch of Operation Lone Star nearly four years ago. Thousands of people, often American citizens, have been charged under the state's human smuggling law, which now carries a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence for those convicted.

The law, intended to combat the Mexican cartels that control much of the border smuggling and trafficking operations, has led to a rise in arrests, with some of those caught unaware of the criminal nature of their actions. Many individuals are recruited through social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, where vague ads offering substantial sums for drivers circulate. Once people respond, they are directed through WhatsApp to pick up migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border and transport them to cities like Houston and Dallas.

Justin Persinger, a 33-year-old musician, was lured into a smuggling operation in the spring of 2023 after meeting a woman who offered him $1,000 to drive people to the border. Persinger was arrested after unknowingly transporting migrants. He had no idea that what seemed like a simple ride-sharing job would land him in a human smuggling charge.

Defense attorneys argue that these individuals are often misled and unaware they are breaking the law, as the social media posts rarely mention the illegal nature of the job. "It's not outside the realm of possibility for somebody to want a driver," said Mary Pietrazek, a San Antonio defense lawyer, to the Texas Tribune.

Texas' human smuggling law has been in effect for over 25 years, but its penalties have grown stricter over time. In 2023, lawmakers passed a law requiring a mandatory 10-year sentence for anyone convicted of smuggling, further increasing the stakes for those caught in these operations.

In 2022, the number of arrests for human smuggling soared to 17,500 — a stark increase from 1,400 arrests just the year before Operation Lone Star began. However, while the law targets cartels, most arrests are of U.S. citizens, many of whom are under 27 years old, with some as young as 18.

Critics of the law, such as criminal justice reformers and immigrants' rights groups, argue it has led to over-incarceration and strained local justice systems. With more than 28,000 smuggling cases filed last year, the law is overwhelming courts, which lack the resources to handle the influx of cases.

The rise in human smuggling arrests and the broader enforcement efforts in Texas have sparked concerns about the law's impact on innocent citizens and the fairness of its application. Legal experts warn that many arrested are simply people trying to make extra money without understanding the illegal nature of their actions.

This week, U.S. Border Patrol agents in the El Paso Sector discovered 37 undocumented migrants hiding inside a tractor-trailer at the Interstate-25 checkpoint on Sunday, CBP informed. The migrants were found during a routine inspection after agents heard movement from the rear of the trailer. Upon further investigation they spotted individuals attempting to hide behind freight.

The migrants hail from different countries, including Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, and Ecuador. They were taken into custody and transported to the Central Processing Center.