Undocumented migrants; the voiceless victims of cartels

Undocumented migration across the U.S.–Mexico border has long been shaped by economic inequality, political instability, and the pursuit of peace and safety. However, in the past fifteen years, Mexican cartels have exerted a silent –yet violent– control on migration, transforming human smuggling into a lucrative enterprise. This dynamic has created a cycle of violence that affects both sides of the border.

In 2023, the now ex-president of Mexico known as “AMLO”, exposed that Cartels dominated migrant routes throughout Mexico, imposing tariffs on those seeking to cross into the United States. According to government-based statistics, migrants were often forced to pay thousands of dollars for passage, with some reports estimating fees as high as $10,000 Mexican pesos ($550 USD) per person. According to a 2025 report from the Mexico Daily Post, when migrant flows decreased in early 2025, cartels shifted tactics, targeting civilians—including American citizens—for kidnapping and ransom, highlighting their adaptability and brutality. Investigations also revealed that cartels continue to exploit migrants through extortion, demanding payments from families under threat of violence. The evolution of targeted crime towards undocumented migrants suggests a complex system that thrives on impunity, as authorities frequently fail to intervene.

The exploitation of migrants does not end with smuggling. Cartels often extort families back home, demanding additional payments under threat of violence. In some cases, migrants are coerced into working for cartels or affiliated gangs in the U.S. to repay debts. According to a 2025 Border Report investigation, domestic gangs are increasingly acting as subcontractors for cartels, distributing drugs and enforcing cartel interests. This partnership extends cartel influence beyond Mexico, embedding organized crime into migrant communities in the U.S.

Raids in Texas in late 2025 uncovered trafficking operations linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, resulting in the arrest of 140 undocumented migrants. These cases illustrate how organized crime networks exploit migrants not only for smuggling but also for forced labor and sex trafficking. In fact, according to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Mexico, cartels remain deeply involved in trafficking operations, with victims subjected to forced labor and sexual exploitation.

The broader implications of cartel involvement in migration are profound. Cartels have managed to control the thin -and almost invisible- line between humanitarian crises and organized crime. This strategy does not only complicate law enforcement responses, but also drives policies focused solely on border enforcement. The latter often fail to dismantle cartel networks and instead, they increase migrant vulnerability. The 2025 Mexico Peace Index emphasized that organized crime remains one of the most pressing challenges for Mexico’s political stability. Rethinking the way Migration and Security are nationally and regionally legislated and implemented is essential for humane policymaking.

Ultimately, the current intersection of undocumented migration and cartel activity reveals a troubling reality: cartels profit from human suffering while governments struggle to respond effectively. Without tackling both sides of the equation, undocumented migrants will remain trapped in a voiceless cycle of violence, crime, and exploitation.