The Washington Times
PHOENIX (AP) — Law-enforcement officials in the Phoenix area are using new tactics to cut off illegal immigration by going after used-car salesmen who sell vehicles to smugglers and by arresting operators of safe houses where immigrants stay after crossing the border.
Unlike past crackdowns, which have focused on stopping immigrants at the border, immigration officials say the new campaign frustrates smugglers by zeroing in on the tools of their trade.
And so far, they say, it seems to be working in Phoenix, the nation's hub for transporting illegal workers throughout the country.
"Now, we really are bringing the focus on putting the organizations out of business through arresting, prosecuting and convicting the controls people," said Mike Turner, who heads the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix. "The endgame is putting the organizational leaders in jail."
Smugglers, also known as "coyotes," typically charge thousands of dollars per person to sneak immigrants across the border, either by foot or hidden in vehicles. Once across, many are taken to hiding places known as "drop houses," where they often stay for months before fanning out across the country to look for work.
For years, many smugglers stole cars to carry migrants from the border to the Phoenix area. But recently, used-car salesmen began selling cars to smugglers with fake liens and names on the titles, so if the car is seized near the border, it reverts to the dealer.