Social media has become a powerful tool for human smugglers, who are exploiting platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp to lure migrants and evade law enforcement. This ease of crossing has alarmed Turkish migrants, who are pouring into the U.S. in record numbers, following routes advertised on Telegram.
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Social Media's Role in Facilitating Illegal Migrant Crossings Raises Concerns for Americans
Social media has emerged as a significant factor in the surge of illegal migrant crossings at the southern border, according to experts and law enforcement officials. Smugglers are taking advantage of platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp to advertise their services and boast about the ease at which they can evade authorities.
This has raised concerns among American citizens, who fear for their safety and security. Turkish migrants, in particular, are being targeted by smugglers who offer routes from Cancun to Tijuana in Mexico, promising a quick and easy entry into the U.S.
Social Media's Role in Facilitating Illegal Migrant Crossings Raises Concerns for Americans
In one alarming incident, a New York Post investigation revealed that migrant smugglers are using Telegram to directly advertise their services to migrants in Turkey, offering routes that include flights and travel into the U.S. The smugglers reportedly tell migrants not to "delay their dreams" in advertisements for these travel routes.
Chinese migrants, too, have reportedly been using videos on the China-owned social media platform TikTok to learn "step-by-step instructions" for how to find gaps in the border wall and hire smugglers. Venezuelan illegal migrant Leonel Moreno, who went viral on TikTok for encouraging others to cross the border, boasted about gaming the U.S. welfare system and advising people to squat in American homes.
Social Media's Role in Facilitating Illegal Migrant Crossings Raises Concerns for Americans
Messenger applications, particularly WhatsApp, have also become invaluable for smugglers to communicate with migrants, using the platform's free phone and video calls, as well as its free text and video messaging features. Its real-time geolocation technology also facilitates journey planning.
Former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Tom Homan, has called on social media companies to do more to stop smugglers from using their apps for illegal migrant crossings. He argues that despite claims of strict rules in place, these platforms continue to be used for criminal activity.
Social Media's Role in Facilitating Illegal Migrant Crossings Raises Concerns for Americans
"Some of these Mexican cartels, they're like Fortune 500 companies. They are operating in about 40 countries around the world, especially the drug cartels, and they’re using the latest technology that's available to them," Homan told Fox News Digital. "They have access to drones, military-grade weapons, and they’re using social media to hire U.S. citizens and others to smuggle aliens for them."
Homan believes social media companies need to do more to crack down on smugglers, especially considering the potential consequences of their actions.
Social Media's Role in Facilitating Illegal Migrant Crossings Raises Concerns for Americans
"When someone goes down to pick up four or five people, do they know they are carrying fentanyl?" Homan said of the smugglers. "Do they know if they're victims of trafficking? Are there women there that, as soon as they get to their final destination, will be forced into the sex trade, or if there are children, will they be forced into labor?"
A recent report by the HHS Office of Inspector General found that the agency had been unable to make contact with more than 85,000 unaccompanied child migrants who had been released to sponsors after being encountered at the southern border.
Representatives for Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) told Fox News Digital that they have policies in place to crack down on such content and remove it when it appears on their platforms.
A Snapchat spokesperson told Fox Digital the company has a "zero-tolerance policy for human smuggling" and takes an aggressive approach to combating it on its platform.
"We use proactive detection tools to find associated content and immediately remove it, take quick action in response to in-app reports, and work closely with law enforcement to support their investigations and strengthen our work to prevent abuse of our platform," the Snapchat spokesperson said.
Homan is calling on Congress to hold hearings on the matter and wants social media representatives to testify about how they are handling the situation.
"We're talking about the safety and security of this nation. What higher cause is there to take action?" Homan said.
"Call these people in and find out why the hell they are allowing this stuff to go on. They'll shut someone out of social media for saying something politically, but they won't shut them down on social media for engaging in criminal activity. It's just ridiculous."
The use of social media by human smugglers is a serious threat to national security and public safety. Congress must take action to hold these platforms accountable and prioritize the safety of all Americans.
