Ammon Blair, a former US Border Patrol agent, stated that Mexican drug cartels and criminal smugglers have the capabilities to run a fake documents network. This network provides immigrants with fraudulent IDs that allow them to work in the United States, contributing to child labor and human trafficking problems in the United States. This ongoing issue has not only increased crime rates but also created serious socio-economic impacts.
"Fake identification is widespread. The cartels, smuggling organizations and a vast network in the criminal underground will create fake State Identification cards, Driver's Licenses, steal American SSNs, create false immigration documents, etc., and sell them to Illegal Aliens in the U.S.," said Blair.
Given this background provided by Blair, it's worth noting recent data on fraud occurrences in America. According to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network data book reported by HyperVerge, fraud is on the rise in America, with an 18% increase from 2020 to 2021 and a continuing increase year by year. The most common type of fraud is identity theft.
Former Border Patrol agent Ammon Blair said the Southern border is a target area for fake documentation and fraud as many immigrants use the cartels to create IDs and Social Security numbers. In May 2023, according to local NBC news, the El Paso Sector confirmed a man from Venezuela was carrying a fake document. "Transnational criminal organizations utilize these events or situations to get more money from migrants and sell them fake accounts [and] fake documentations," said Claudio Herrera, a spokesman for Border Patrol El Paso Sector.
According to a press release from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), officers confiscated 3,359 fake identification cards in one week. CBP said counterfeit documents "have the appearance of legal documentation but are not issued by a legitimate organization or government agency and are not recognized in the United States as official travel or identification instruments." An April 2022 press release from CBP said Chicago officers seized a shipment of counterfeit IDs traveling through the airport.
Blair said this is a common activity for the cartels noting that many smuggling operations use Unidentified Alien Child (UACs) with fake documents that Border Patrol cannot verify. Many UACs lack proper documentation at the border, often providing unverifiable biographical information. He said, "children under 14 can be 'recycled' over and over again... each time with a fake identity." This leads to child labor issues within the United States as well as human trafficking where the UACs become "ghosts," Blair said.
According to Blair, the cartels kidnap children and create "fake families" with "fake documents." According to "family unit prosecutorial discretion policies" these 'families' are released into the US to be used for labor or sex trafficking. Alternatively, the children can be sent back to their country of origin to begin the process again. Border Patrol has no way of verifying their accurate identification due to fraudulent or stolen information as well as policies on UACs which prevent photos being taken of those under the age of 14.
