Cartel Using Wristbands To Control Migrant Crossings At US-Mexico Border

Wristband systems used by Mexican cartels reveal a sophisticated level of control over migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.

At a Glance

Mexican drug cartels employ wristband systems to organize migrant crossings into Texas.
Wristbands indicate payment to smugglers and crossing area, demonstrating cartel control.
The Cartel del Noreste heavily influences regions across from the Rio Grande Valley.
Migrant smuggling is a billion-dollar business, increasingly managed by violent cartels.
An average of 2,000 illegal immigrants enter Texas daily, including numerous special interest migrants.

Cartels Implement Wristband Systems

Mexican drug cartels have adopted a new method to manage and control illegal migrant crossings into the United States using colored wristbands. These wristbands, often found discarded along personal belongings at border crossings, symbolize a shift towards a more organized and coordinated smuggling operation. The Cartel del Noreste utilizes this method, marking a significant indication of control over cross-border movements, particularly noticed in regions like Eagle Pass and Rio Grande Valley.

Each color of the wristband holds a particular significance, indicating the payment status to smugglers and determining the specific areas for crossing. For instance, a blue wristband signifies eligibility to cross in one area, while a red one denotes another. Such methods reflect the cartels’ broader reach and dominance over the migrant smuggling process, contributing to a billion-dollar industry now tightly controlled by organized crime networks.

NEW: Cartel migrant bracelets have made it to the Del Rio sector— A tactic historically seen in the Rio Grande Valley.

Names written in marker on blue, green and yellow bracelets littered along the river banks on private property in Eagle Pass—The latest area to be exploited… pic.twitter.com/wRZhybw2dw

— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) October 22, 2024

Major Cartels Control Border Regions

The Cartel del Noreste, a prominent player succeeding Los Zetas, holds significant influence over the regions adjacent to the Rio Grande Valley and Eagle Pass. Mexican cartels, alongside their wristband tracking systems, charge migrants for crossing through their territories. Avoiding such fees can often lead to substantial risks, underscoring the dangers of bypassing cartel-controlled paths.

“In the RGV area, the Gulf Cartel controls the alien smuggling groups. The various alien smuggling groups issue bracelets to each alien being smuggled into the U.S.” said the office of embattled U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents the area.

Despite an observed decrease in overall migrant encounters, Texas continues to report an average of 2,000 daily illegal crossings, with nearly 300 in Eagle Pass alone. This influx includes special interest migrants, those arriving from countries with potential national security concerns, necessitating an urgent call for enhanced scrutiny and investigative efforts.

The cartel is giving migrants colored bracelets as a way to keep track of people trying to cross the border, a Texas DPS agent tells NewsNation.

MORE: https://t.co/zgjvt5Osgz pic.twitter.com/YSuYYmdrJk

— NewsNation (@NewsNation) October 22, 2024

Conclusion and Ongoing Concerns

The complexity of migrant smuggling has evolved drastically, transitioning from freelance coyotes to systematic operations controlled by violent cartels. Despite past reliance on enforcement-focused policies, there’s an urgent need for a comprehensive asylum process to address irregular entries and ensure national security. Government leaders, such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have called for cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, reflecting the severity of the ongoing crisis at the border.

“We’ve always seen that in those areas. We’ve never seen that in Eagle Pass. That tells us it’s more controlled, more coordinated by the cartels,” said Lt. Chris Olivarez.

A major shift in policy and sustained investment in a modernized asylum system can help alleviate irregular entries and bolster humanitarian efforts. This shift requires expanding processing capacities, funding legal counsel for asylum seekers, and constructing regional processing centers, among others, to forge a safer and more efficient asylum process.