“Coyote”

The other day, I received a call from a former client asking me if I could help his cousin get released from a federal detention facility. The cousin was apprehended at a border somewhere between Mexico and Texas. I could not understand why this person tried to enter the US via Mexico when in fact he lives in, and is a citizen of, an Asian country. Apparently, word got out there that it appears easier now to gain admission into the US through Mexico if you only pay a “coyote.” A coyote is a colloquial term that refers to a human smuggler whom you pay as much as $10,000 just to sneak you inside the US. Mind you, there is no guarantee that even with the hefty sum of money paid to the coyote, that the immigrant will not be caught at the border or be deported at some point.

The use of human smugglers is very prevalent especially by immigrants from Central American countries. Aside from being charged outrageous prices, these vulnerable immigrants have to endure dangerous conditions that threaten their lives ranging from threats, physical and sexual abuse, and even death. While we can argue that this criminal activity is a voluntary and consensual act between the coyote and the immigrant, still there exists an uneven balance of motives between these two parties. These immigrants think that once inside the US they can easily recoup the tremendous amount of money they have paid to the coyote.

It is also interesting to note that the tougher the US enforces its immigration rules, the higher the prices the coyote could charge. That is just simply the cost of doing business. But still there are immigrants willing to take the risk. Just like my client’s cousin who had to travel halfway around the world and pay a coyote just to chase the American dream. Only to get caught at the border and is sure to be deported back to the same country he ran away from.

This scenario is only one of the examples that illustrate what people have to go through just to come to America. So for those who have already gained legal entry or who already possess green cards or work permits, please take care, protect and maintain your lawful immigration status in any way you can.

This column is not a substitute for professional legal advice obtained from a US-licensed immigration attorney. The information contained herein does not constitute a warranty or guarantee or legal advice regarding a reader’s specific immigration case. No attorney-client relationship is and shall be established with any reader.

For any questions, comments and observations, please contact Atty. Marco Tomakin at [email protected]