HOUSTON, Texas–Thousands of illegal immigrants–most of whom are from Central America–continue to cross the U.S.-Mexico border each day, but there are many who never complete the dangerous journey north because they run out of money. The trip from Central America can be a life-threatening one, but rumors of “amnesty” have only caused more immigrants to make it to the U.S. at any cost.
Zack Taylor, Chairman of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, told Breitbart Texas that smugglers typically charge hopeful foreigners hundreds of dollars to take them from their home countries to the U.S. Often, however, the immigrants run out of money along the way.
The Arizona Republic reported that due to this problem–which, it appears, is becoming increasingly common–migrants are “amassing” at the Rio Grande River’s edge, just within sight of the U.S.
14-year-old Brayan Duban Soler Redando of Honduras reportedly ran out of money and couldn’t pay a smuggler to take him across the river. Now, he is stuck in a shelter Reynosa, a city plagued with violence and cartels. Such shelters, just outside the U.S., “are packed these days with migrants planning to cross the river and enter the United States illegally,” the Arizona Republic reported.
Beds are full and space is tight in Reynosa-based smuggling houses, as an increasing number of immigrants cannot afford to a pay a smuggler across the Rio Grande.
The Obama Administration vehemently insists that violence and poverty in the migrants’ home countries is the cause of the border crisis.
Many others, however, claim the administration’s actions and rhetoric–which has caused Central Americans to believe they will receive amnesty–has caused thousands of children like Redando to risk their lives. “The U.S. is partly responsible for foreign nationals taking extreme measures that risk the lives of their children,” Taylor said.
Indeed, upon arrival in the U.S., the migrants are not turned away. Instead they are given taxpayer subsidized benefits that include housing, food, recreation, counseling, education, and legal advice. On top of this, hundreds of illegal immigrants are being released by U.S. authorities each week.
Those who make it to the U.S. are the lucky ones–but there is an unknown, albeit growing, number of Central Americans who do not complete the dangerous journey and could be left in a situation worse than the one they initially fled from.
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.