Why Teens Are Smuggling Immigrants Into US; Arrest Records Reveal Alarmingly High Numbers Of Teens Into Illegal Activity

There's an alarming rise in numbers of teenagers being arrested in South Texas for smuggling immigrants into the United States. Arrest records from authorities in Hildalgo County show that more teen girls are into the illegal activity and it should be a community concern.

Brittany Lizeth Roque, 17, has had a brush with the law two times this year. According to Fox News, she was paid $250 per smuggled immigrant by criminal organizations.

She is one of five young women among 11 teenagers accosted by the police in 2016. The number of teen arrests due to human smuggling has apparently doubled from 2011 to 2015. The police, however, are very aware of who the criminals are targeting.

Police Chief Raul Gonzalez believes that human smugglers hire teens, especially young women, from low-income families living in the La Joya Independent school district. "Because of their circumstances they look at their options and they feel this may be something that can help out financially," he told Fox News.

The police believes that the teenagers are generally good kids. Some of them have actually provided the authorities valuable police information they can use against criminal organizations.

The teenagers, however, have to face the consequences of smuggling immigrants, especially since human smuggling carry a heavy mandate under state laws even for minors. "We want our federal partners to know that we support them but we are not going to let these people go with a slap on the hand," Sheriff Eddie Guerra said, according to The Monitor. Some teens have reportedly become emotional and regretful while detained in jail.

Yet authorities are aware that it's not the teenagers they have to aggressively go after. The problem, however, is that criminals often change their style and the police have to constantly adapt to these changes.

In the meantime, the community has to work together to protect the young victims who might be enticed by money. "We tell them about the risks because it not only that you may get arrested but you can hurt somebody and end up in jail," Gonzalez told the news outlet.