Lax Border Policies Facilitate Drug Trafficking, Labor Exploitation—Impacting Voters

Commentary The southern U.S. border has unfortunately been exploited for some of the largest illicit businesses in the world—human sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and labor exploitation, along with illegal fishing and farming. According to a former law enforcement agent who requested anonymity, labor exploitation in particular is a very widespread business, especially in California. Illegal immigrants who are exploited may find a job by word of mouth, such as janitorial, house cleaning, or factory work, and agree to an under-the-table payment. Over time, these people will be underpaid by more than 60 percent, if they even get paid at all. The person who is supposed to pay these illegal immigrants will often elongate the time it takes to pay them by weeks and even months....