The Mexican Cartel del Noreste’s strategic wristband system is reshaping illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border, raising new security concerns. Human trafficking is becoming industrialized.
Cartels’ Control Tactics
The Cartel del Noreste employs color-coded wristbands to manage migrants crossing illegally into the United States. These wristbands indicate proof of payment and dictate designated crossing locations. The system reflects a calculated effort by the cartels to maintain order and control over smuggling activities, particularly evident in Eagle Pass, Texas, where the wristbands have surfaced, demonstrating a heightened level of coordination and organization by the cartels.
The wristbands promote ease of passage for those who have paid the requisite fees, while those who bypass these payments risk significant dangers. This operational strategy by the cartels has been acknowledged by local authorities, highlighting a need for elevated vigilance and monitoring of border activities.
BORDER UPDATE: Out this morning in Eagle Pass, Texas, showing areas along the Rio Grande recently used for illegal crossings involving special interest immigrants & unaccompanied children. @TxDPS Troopers & National Guard forces have secured the area, preventing illegal border… pic.twitter.com/YlVsI89vo1
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) October 22, 2024
Escalating Border Challenges
Texas, despite experiencing a decline in migrant encounters, still records an average of 2,000 daily illegal entries, with Eagle Pass seeing about 300 on average. Alongside this, authorities have observed an increasing presence of special interest migrants coming from countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and various African regions. These individuals are flagged for potential national security concerns based on anomalies in their travel patterns, necessitating comprehensive scrutiny during border checks.
“If they have a blue one, they can only cross in this area. If they have a red one, they can only cross in that area.” – Lt. Chris Olivarez
Furthermore, the special interest status does not explicitly indicate terrorist involvement but signifies the importance of further investigation to assess any hidden threats these individuals may pose. Federal and state agencies are correspondingly tasked with assessing whether these migrants represent any substantial risk to U.S. national security interests.
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's @AliBradleyTV.
MORE: https://t.co/zgjvt5P067 pic.twitter.com/jY8OIqytXV
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) October 22, 2024
Coordinated Cartel Operations
The wristbands signify the ever-evolving strategies employed by drug cartels to counteract enforcement efforts at the border. The Cartel del Noreste clearly holds influence over vast stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border, asserting its control over human smuggling operations from across the Rio Grande Valley and near Eagle Pass, Texas. Their systematic approach prevents discord among migrants and smugglers, removing competition for crossing locations while ensuring payments are collected in advance.
“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.” – Lt. Chris Olivarez
