Corruption and Migrant Smuggling in the United States

Abstract

From the 1990's the United States adopted a border enforcement strategy to discourage illegal immigrants from attempting to enter the country. However, tougher enforcement did not prevent migrant crossings. This paper, based on a qualitative methodology that includes in depth interviews with eighty migrant smugglers, examines the causes of corruption of U.S. immigration officials and concludes that corruption is a key element in migrant smuggling because it makes it easier to get the migrants across the borders. The complicity of border and immigration officials with smugglers and employers explains why today's probability of apprehension is lower than half a century ago.