Illegal Aliens are Opportunistic Criminals, Not Victims

The narrative of illegal aliens as desperate, impoverished victims seeking a better life has been romanticized for too long. In reality, many illegal migrants from, for example, Guatemala are not helpless but opportunistic participants in a criminal ecosystem that enriches human traffickers, drug cartels, and other transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Far from being passive victims, these individuals make calculated choices to engage in illegal activities, from paying exorbitant smuggling fees to working under-the-table jobs that undermine U.S. labor laws and economic stability. .

Not Poor: The Rarity of $20,000 in Guatemala

In Guatemala, having $20,000 in a bank account is an extraordinary rarity, reserved for a tiny elite in a nation where poverty dominates. With a GDP per capita of just $6,188 in 2024 and 57.3% of the population living below the poverty line—often on less than $2 a day—most Guatemalans struggle to meet basic needs, let alone amass significant savings. Only 35% of adults even have access to a bank account, and the top 1% control 65% of the nation’s wealth, leaving the vast majority with minimal liquid assets. The ability to pay $12,000–$20,000 in smuggling fees, often through loans or family contributions, underscores that those who can afford such sums are far from the average Guatemalan, aligning them closer to an economic elite than the impoverished masses. This financial capacity, rare in a country where daily survival is a challenge, highlights the calculated opportunism of many illegal migrants, who leverage substantial resources to fund their journey, fueling criminal networks in the process.

Funding Criminal Enterprises

Illegal migration is not a victimless act. Migrants pay smugglers, such as the Lopez Human Smuggling Organization, fees ranging from $12,000 to $15,000 to cross into the U.S.. These payments directly fund TCOs like Los Huistas and the Sinaloa Cartel, the latter designated a foreign terrorist organization. These groups don’t stop at smuggling; they traffic drugs, exploit children for sex, and launder money, generating billions annually. For instance, sex trafficking alone brings $1.6 billion to Guatemala each year, often involving children as young as 13. By choosing to pay these fees, illegal aliens are not victims but active contributors to a cycle of violence and exploitation that endangers vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied minors.

Draining the U.S. Economy

The economic argument for illegal immigration—that migrants boost the U.S. economy—is a fallacy. In 2022, Guatemalan migrants sent $18 billion in remittances back to their home country, equivalent to 17% of Guatemala’s GDP. This money, earned through often-illegal employment, is siphoned out of the U.S. economy, doing little to benefit American communities. Instead, it props up Guatemala’s economy, funding everything from basic needs to, in some cases, further criminal activity. Meanwhile, illegal aliens’ willingness to work under-the-table jobs encourages unscrupulous employers to flout labor laws, fostering unsafe work conditions and wage theft. These jobs, often in agriculture or construction, exploit both the workers and the U.S. system, undermining fair labor practices and tax revenue.

Complicity in Illegal Acts

Far from being passive, many illegal aliens actively engage in criminal behavior to facilitate their migration. Cases like Juan Tiul Xi and Luciano Tinuar Quino reveal migrants using fraudulent documents and false identities to sponsor unaccompanied children, potentially enabling child trafficking. Such actions are not isolated but part of a broader pattern of document fraud, identity theft, and Social Security fraud, as noted by public officials. These crimes harm American citizens and destabilize the immigration system, prioritizing personal gain over legal integrity.

Not Victims, but Opportunists

The image of illegal aliens as destitute victims is a convenient myth. Guatemala’s poverty rate is high, but the ability to pay thousands of dollars in smuggling fees suggests access to significant resources, whether through loans, family support, or other means. These migrants are not fleeing immediate danger in many cases but seeking economic opportunities, often at the expense of legal pathways and U.S. sovereignty. Their choices fuel cartels, exploit vulnerable children, and burden the U.S. economy with untracked labor and lost revenue. While some face exploitation, their decision to engage with criminal networks makes them complicit in the very systems they claim to escape.

A Call for Accountability

It’s time to stop romanticizing illegal immigration and recognize it for what it is: a calculated gamble that funds crime and undermines the rule of law. The U.S. must strengthen border enforcement, crack down on under-the-table employment, and hold migrants accountable for their role in perpetuating criminal enterprises. By dismantling the victim narrative, we can focus on protecting American communities and breaking the cycle of exploitation driven by illegal migration.

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