immigration

Border Crackdown Discourages ‘Fraudulent Families,’ Child Trafficking

Migrant families all but ceased trying to enter the United States illegally in the last four months after the federal government started enforcing immigration laws.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents encountered less than 4,000 illegal immigrants traveling in family units between February and May — an almost inconceivable 99% drop from nearly 258,700 encounters between February and May 2024.  

The startling statistic could suggest America is successfully combatting child trafficking in fraudulent families.

Immigration officials are more likely to allow families to await trial in America than single illegal migrants. Cartels and traffickers take advantage of this loophole by “renting” children to single people trying to sneak into the country.  

“[Illegal aliens are] coached and mentored and given what to say by cartels and the human smuggling organizations: ‘Grab a kid, and that is your U.S. passport. That will guarantee you entry into the United States,’” former CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan told journalists in 2019.

“And guess what — they were right.”

Morgan believed America could disincentivize this kind of trafficking by keeping illegal immigrants in detention to await trial. But, between 2021 and 2024, America’s immigration procedures crumbled under record numbers of illegal migrants. Millions effectively vanished after being released from overwhelmed detention centers.

Human traffickers no doubt benefited from the chaos. As early as 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP confirmed the existence of “child recycling rings.” Once a fraudulent family successfully snuck into the U.S., the trafficked child would be flown back to Central or South America to complete the dangerous journey again with another “client.”

DHS data indicates as many as 3 in 10 children CBP agents encounter in family units, some as young as six months old, are not related to their supposed family members.

In 2020, the federal government expanded DNA testing programs meant to ferret out fraudulent families, signing a five-year contract with a company that provided and analyzed fast, minimally invasive, familial DNA tests.

The Biden administration terminated the program two years early in 2023 without explanation or warning.

The House Subcommittee on National Security subsequently launched an investigation into how border patrol can identify fraudulent families without DNA testing. The inquiry is ongoing.

Given what we know about fraudulent families, the dramatic decrease in illegal family units trying to sneak into the country shows America is effectively combatting a particularly heinous form of child victimization.

By refusing to release detained illegal migrants into America, officials are also preventing traffickers from continuing to exploit vulnerable children.

Additional Articles and Resources

Crackdown on Illegal Immigration Protects Children

Familial DNA Testing on the Southern Border Shouldn’t Have Ended

American immigration System Loses Contact with Tens of Thousands of Migrant Children

Trump Sees Lowest Border Numbers in History: ‘The Invasion is Over’

Violent Gang Takes Advantage of American Immigration Policy

Politics is Putting Children at Risk on the Southern Border

Trump’s Border Czar Explains Child Trafficking Under Biden Administration

It’s Compassionate to Oppose Illegal immigration. Here’s Why.

Talking to Your Kids About Illegal Immigration

My Rescue From Human Trafficking to New Life in Christ

Identifying the Signs of Human Trafficking

Crackdown on Illegal Immigration Protects Children

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents released no illegal immigrants into America last month — an exponential decrease from the 62,000 released in May 2024.

This astounding discrepancy reflects the government’s broader crack down on illegal migration through America’s southern border. CBP agents encountered less than 12,500 illegal migrants this May, a 93% drop from 180,000 encounters in May 2024.

Migrant children arguably benefit most from tougher immigration enforcement. Child traffickers operated with unprecedented impunity between 2019 and 2024, taking advantage of America’s overwhelmed border to exploit and enslave vulnerable kids.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released 448,000 unaccompanied migrant children into America between 2019 and 2023 to await immigration trial. The federal government lost between 7% (32,000) and 65% (291,000) of them, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report released last year.

ICE and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) get just two opportunities to check in with every unaccompanied migrant child released into the country — a phone call one month after HHS places them with an American sponsor and the child’s immigration court hearing.

An estimated 149,000 kids missed their verbal check-ins between 2019 and 2023, and more than 32,000 missed their court dates. According to DHS, ICE had no “formal policy or process” to track missing children down.

Another 291,000 had yet to be assigned court dates at all; they could be anywhere, for all the government knows.

Per DHS’ report:

[Unaccompanied minors that do not appear in court] are considered at higher risk for trafficking, exploitation and forced labor.

Virtually no one enters America illegally without paying, or being trafficked by, crime rings. A New York Times exposé from 2022 explains:

Migrant smuggling on the U.S. southern border has evolved over the past 10 years from a scattered network of freelance “coyotes” into a multi-billion-dollar international business controlled by organized crime.

Homeland Security Investigations estimates organized crime made $13 billion dollars off trafficking human beings across America’s southern border in 2022 alone. A study from the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women found 60% of unaccompanied migrant children are trafficked by cartels and smugglers for pornography and drug transportation.

Others must pay cartels controlling the border exorbitant prices to enter the U.S. Those who can’t pay must work off their debts in a form of slavery known as debt-bondage.

The few children who manage to escape gang violence and enslavement may still find themselves in debt to their American sponsors. In a Times investigation from 2023, an HHS worker admitted some American hosts illegally charge unaccompanied migrant children rent in exchange for a place to stay.

HHS couldn’t investigate complaints, she explained, because of the overwhelming number of children in its custody.

The investigation found children as young as 12 years old working full-time, dangerous jobs in construction, roofing, commercial laundries, industrial bakeries and slaughterhouses to pay their sponsors and smugglers.

More than 60 anonymous HHS workers interviewed by the Times estimated two-thirds of the migrant children in HHS’ custody ended up with full-time jobs.

CBP agents encountered just 6,575 unaccompanied migrant children trying to enter the country illegally between February and May 2025 — an 85% decrease from last year’s 44,840.

Some viciously criticize the government for detaining children at the southern border. But the data suggests the best thing America can do for these vulnerable kids is disincentivize illegal immigration and keep underage detainees in custody where they cannot be preyed upon.

Additional Articles and Resources

American immigration System Loses Contact with Tens of Thousands of Migrant Children

Trump Sees Lowest Border Numbers in History: ‘The Invasion is Over’

Violent Gang Takes Advantage of American Immigration Policy

Politics is Putting Children at Risk on the Southern Border

Trump’s Border Czar Explains Child Trafficking Under Biden Administration

It’s Compassionate to Oppose Illegal immigration. Here’s Why.

Talking to Your Kids About Illegal Immigration

My Rescue From Human Trafficking to New Life in Christ

Identifying the Signs of Human Trafficking

Where is Ava Moore’s Due Process?

It’s a heartbreaking story that is becoming all-too familiar.

Over this past weekend, 18-year-old Ava Moore, an Air Force Academy cadet candidate, was killed by an illegal alien from Venezuela.

Ava was kayaking on Grapevine Lake, Texas this past Memorial Day weekend when Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez, who was driving a jet ski at a high speed, collided with the incoming Air Force cadet.

Gonzalez has been charged with second-degree felony manslaughter. Maikel Coello Perozo, who she was with, was charged with collision involving damage to a vehicle and with hindering apprehension after fleeing the scene.

In a statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, “Ava Moore’s senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country in the first place. My heart breaks for Ava’s family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy.”

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have confirmed that both individuals were here illegally. Previously apprehended at the border, they were released and instructed to return for processing. They never did.

According to the House Committee on Oversight, “The Biden Administration failed to detain most illegal aliens during removal proceedings, releasing over 75 percent of illegal aliens encountered by Border Patrol in December 2023. In addition, the Administration failed to remove most of the illegal aliens encountered during Joe Biden’s presidency.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have reported there were nearly 11 million “encounters” at the borders during the Biden years compared with 3 million during President Trump’s first term.

Nobody is alleging that the individuals here illegally deliberately targeted Moore, but if they had been properly processed in the first place, Ava would still be alive.

Moore had just graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School and was expected to play basketball for the Falcons this coming season.

Her would-be school mourned her passing in a statement from Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind:

We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend — Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met. Ava’s constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team.

In recent months, legal and political battles have unfolded over the deportation of illegal aliens just like these individuals now charged in the death of Ava Moore. In March, the Trump administration deported 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, and 23 members of MS-13, an international gang. In an effort to simplify and expedite the process, officials invoked the Alien Enemies Act – a 1798 law that gives the president broad powers to remove individuals who pose a threat to the country.

Critics and some courts and judges have pushed back citing the need for “due process” – which is principle broadly understood to ensure fundamental fairness.

Without diving into the details or individual cases, an obvious and heart-wrenching question must be posed: Who was protecting the fundamental rights of Ava Moore this past weekend to enjoy a kayak ride on a holiday weekend?

Earlier this month, Homeland Security released a video remembering Americans killed by illegal immigrants driving under the influence.

Ivory Smith was seven years old. Maverick Martzen was eight. Alex “AJ” Wise Jr. was ten.

And Ava Moore was eighteen.

In a remarkable gesture, Ava’s family released a statement following her death, pointing to a foundation of faith:

This is a difficult time for all involved, but also an opportunity for our beautiful girl to continue to impact our community. Out of this tragedy, God will make good — and that only can be accomplished through forgiveness.

We urge prayers for all those grieving the loss of this young woman.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

Laken Riley Act Passes Senate

The Laken Riley Act (S. 5) passed Congress yesterday after the U.S. House of Representatives approved slight amendments from the U.S. Senate. It is expected to become the first piece of legislation President Trump signs into law.

The bill, which the House and Senate passed in 264-159 and 64-35 votes, respectively, allows state attorneys general to sue state and federal officials for failing to enforce immigration laws. It also requires police help Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deport illegal immigrants arrested for some petty crimes.

The House is expected to approve the slightly amended legislation later this week. In a post-inauguration address to his supporters, Mr. Trump implied he would sign it.

“There is a bill coming up very shortly that [will have] a lot of Democrat votes,” the President predicted. “It’s going to be a very beautiful bill. We’re going to have a decision…within a week or so, I think. You all know what I’m talking about.”

Representative Mike Collins introduced the bill last year after one of his constituents, 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, was murdered by an illegal immigrant. It fixes some of the systemic failures that allowed her killer, Jose Ibarra, to roam the U.S. freely.

Police arrested and released Ibarra at least three times between 2022, when he entered America illegally, and February 2024, when he brutally beat Riley to death.

Deportation proceedings being when police lodge a detainer, or transfer custody of an illegal immigrant to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Though law enforcement is required to lodge detainers for illegal migrants arrested for criminal offenses, some still choose not to. New York City police arrested and released Ibarra for child endangerment in 2023 . A month later, he flew to Georgia courtesy of New York taxpayers.

It’s unclear why the NYPD failed to detain Ibarra. Importantly, New York City considers itself a sanctuary city, loosely defined as jurisdiction that refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The Laken Riley Act, if signed, will make it riskier to ignore detainer mandates and other federal immigration laws.

The bill also requires officers to lodge detainers on illegal immigrants arrested for theft, larceny, burglary and shoplifting, which are considered petty crimes.

Ibarra murdered Riley less than six months after Georgia police arrested him for shoplifting. He was already wanted for skipping his shoplifting trial.

Ibarra is not the only illegal immigrant to commit petty crimes before violent ones. Rafael Romero was on probation for theft in Texas before he stalked and murdered 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina. DNA left at a burglary and home invasion in California led police to Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, the man who allegedly murdered Rachel Morin.

Support for the law transcends political parties and stereotypes. Senator Ruben Gallego, a child of immigrants and one of 12 Democrats who helped pass the Laken Riley Act, told Politico:

I’m bring the perspective of working-class Latinos from Arizona. And that perspective, I think, has been missing…[They] want more Border Patrol, they want more border investments and enforcement…and they also want immigration reform.

The Daily Citizen will continue reporting this developing story. You can read more about Laken Riley and the ways illegal immigration harms children and families in the articles below.

Additional Articles and Resources

American Immigration System Loses Contact with Tens of Thousands of Migrant Children

Nonbinary Nonsense: HHS Proposes Rule Making It Harder to Care for Migrant Children

Laken Riley Murdered After Killer Took Taxpayer-Funded Flight

Illegal Immigrant to Appear in Court for Death of Texas Teen, Illustrates Violent Trend

Illegal Immigrant Arrested in Murder of Maryland Mom

Laken Riley Act Introduced in Senate

Talking to Your Kids About Illegal Immigration

Familial DNA Testing on the Southern Border Shouldn’t Have Ended

The Border Crisis and the Deafening Silence of Women’s Groups

MSNBC Backlash: Outlet Changes Title Sympathizing with Laken Riley’s Killer

MSNBC changed the title of one of its opinion articles late last week after readers accused the network of sympathizing with Laken Riley’s killer. The controversy bodes ill for the floundering outlet, which Comcast has announced it will spin off into a different company.

A Georgia judge convicted Jose Ibarra Wednesday for the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, finding Ibarra guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, hindering a 911 call and tampering with evidence.

Ibarra was subsequently sentenced to life without parole.

In response, MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos penned an opinion piece entitled, “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance — For all the political controversy surrounding Jose Ibarra, the outcome of this trial was never in doubt.”

Readers subsequently accused the defense lawyer of implying Ibarra had been railroaded.

The backlash was warranted. Cevallos’ use of the phrase “never stood a chance” suggests Ibarra was unfairly deprived of the chance to be acquitted. His assertion that “the outcome of this trial was never in doubt” likewise implies Judge Patrick Haggard found Ibarra guilty before hearing the evidence.

This insinuation is not based in fact. The prosecution presented nigh irrefutable evidence tying Ibarra to Riley’s brutal murder, including,

  • Ibarra’s fingerprints on Riley’s phone, presumably from when he ended her call to 911.
  • Ibarra’s DNA under Riley’s fingernails, corresponding to scratches on Ibarra’s hands, arms and neck.
  • Surveillance footage showing Ibarra throw a jacket in a dumpster. Investigators found Riley’s hair and blood on the jacket.
  • Surveillance footage showing Ibarra trying to break into another student’s apartment just two hours before he attacked Riley.

MSNBC found Cevallos’ original title similarly indefensible. It quickly replaced it with, “The guilt of Laken Riley’s killer was never in doubt — For all the controversy surrounding Jose Ibarra, the case against him was always a simple one.”

The new title is marginally better, but still bizarrely ambiguous. It could imply that the prosecution’s evidence was insurmountable. It could also imply what the original title did — that Jose Ibarra did not receive a fair trial. 

Cevallos’ equivocation clouds an otherwise simple piece. He posits that the defense waived Ibarra’s right to a jury trial because the case couldn’t be won. At times, Cevallos seems to acknowledge that the evidence against Ibarra made the case unwinnable. He addresses Laken Riley as a victim. He commends the defense for conserving the state’s resources.

But he also includes several comments seeming to impugn Judge Haggard’s decision to sentence Ibarra to life in prison.

Acknowledging the defense’s case had little chance against a jury, Cevallos wrote, “But apparently [the case] had no chance with the judge, either, since he was convicted anyway.” This sentence implies, as the original title did, that Haggard had decided to convict Ibarra before he analyzed the evidence.

If Cevallos had agreed with the sentencing, he wouldn’t have included a comment about Haggard “cutting [Ibarra] no breaks.” Similarly, if Cevallos believed the judge was on the up-and-up, he wouldn’t have started a description of Haggard’s narrow sentencing options with, “In fairness” — a phrase that signals a coming counterargument to an initially negative assessment.

It bears repeating — Cevallos’ veiled insinuations are not based in fact. The prosecution presented a preponderance of evidence tying Ibarra to Riley’s murder. The brutality of the crime and Ibarra’s criminal record and gang affiliations explain Haggard’s sentencing choices.

Cevallos is certainly entitled to his point of view, but journalistic outlets generally don’t platform unsupported opinions — or hire their writers as legal analysts.

Regardless, MSNBC can’t afford another controversy following Comcast’s decision to spin them into a new company, along with USA Network, CNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel. Comcast maintains the move will allow the ousted networks more room to grow, but staffers aren’t so sure. The spin off effectively de-links MSNBC from NBC, giving showrunners freedom to change the network’s editorial direction.

Comcast has not yet announced how NBC’s resources will be split among the departing affiliates. Nor has the cable juggernaut signaled willingness to sell MSNBC, despite high-profile offers from billionaires like Elon Musk.

MSNBC’s fate may be up in the air, but one thing’s for sure — sympathizing with a convicted killer won’t win them any public support. The network must seriously evaluate the analysis it chooses to platform, or risk losing the platform altogether.

Additional Articles and Resources

Laken Riley Murdered After Killer Took Taxpayer-Funded Flight

Violent Gang Takes Advantage of American Immigration Policy

Debate Over Immigration Labels Obscures Seriousness of Laken Riley’s Death

Illegal Immigrant to Appear in Court for Death of Texas Teen, Illustrates Violent Trend

Illegal Immigrant Arrested in Murder of Maryland Mom

Laken Riley Act Introduced in Senate

Talking to Your Kids About Illegal Immigration

Familial DNA Testing on the Southern Border Shouldn’t Have Ended

The Border Crisis and the Deafening Silence of Women’s Groups