Migrant Smuggling Data and Research

However, no prior research in the United States has found evidence to that
pointed to overlaps between drug trafficking and migrant smuggling activities.
In other words, drug traffickers and migrant smugglers seemed to occupy
separate marketplaces. Much research is needed to substantiate such overlaps
and provide explanations as why and how these two markets are merging. One
possible hypothesis is that intensified border security reduces geographical
places and forces both drug traffickers and migrant smugglers to converge onto
a few available transportation routes. While little empirical exists to explain
how these two groups of enterprising agents may interact within restricted
geography, it is fair to speculate that the better armed ones, mostly the drug
traffickers, most likely prevail in the control of the physical pathways into the
United States. Migrants thus are increasingly being used as couriers to move
drugs into the United States either as a condition of their smuggling operation
or as a form of payment. There is little research on whether drug traffickers are
forcing out the migrant smugglers or that migrant smugglers have expanded to
collaborate with drug traffickers for additional income.
Conclusion and ways forward
Following the 9/11 events in the United States, migrant smuggling as
a research topic has received scant attention. One would think that migrant
smuggling may be translated into border security issues or carry national
security implications. However, current discourse on national security, especially
on anti-terrorist activities, takes places largely without any reference to migrant
smuggling. This lack of official attention on migrant smuggling can saliently
evidence the number of open solicitations by the federal government for funding
migrant smuggling related studies. This author is not aware of any in the past 15
years. In fact, other than the survey of 300 unauthorized Chinese migrants in
New York City by Chin (1999) who attempted to understand the trans-Pacific
smuggling operations, no one else has carried out a similar study inside the
United States since.
Patterns and changes in migrant smuggling in the United States reflect
a multitude of social, economic and political factors. But few researchers are
currently funded to engage in systematic data collection to study this topic. The
changing roles and functions of migrant smugglers may provide much information
to policymakers, as well as law enforcement agencies on the broader societal and
economic conditions under which migration takes place. For instance, following
the significant build-up in security along the United States–Mexico border, illegal
crossings by individual migrants themselves have largely disappeared. In the face
of increased costs and hazards, migrants routinely seek human smugglers for a
multitude of services, ranging from personal protection to food and shelters,
and to transportation.
318
12. United States