(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) U.S. Border Patrol officers raised the alarm on Chinese-owned social-media platform TikTok, for allowing Mexican cartels to publish “help wanted” posts in search of Americans to smuggle illegal immigrants across the southern border.
According to the Post Millennial, TikTok took no measures against the posts but placed a warning label on them which read “participating in this activity could result in you or others getting hurt.”
One video asked for drivers with a car or a truck based out of several cities in Texas and offered pay of $10,000-$20,000. They offered even more money to people with trailers.
An account known as “Flako Driver” was one of many that posted recruitment ads targeted at American citizens for employment opportunities.
Users have generally regarded TikTok’s terms and conditions for posting as stringent—particularly when it comes to American political issues—but platform regulators have done little to stop ads promoting the blatantly illegal activity when it comes to immigration.
Earlier reports exposed smugglers promoting videos for would be migrants as well, with many of them stylized to make it seem like a fun travel adventure rather than a harrowing and potentially deadly journey through hostile terrain.
Local police officers said the great majority of the attempted smugglers they encountered were American citizens.
“We’re seeing all walks of life,” said Sheriff Brad Coe of Kinney County.
“We’ve had those that are hurting for money, they’re in a bind financially and are looking to make an easy buck,” Coe continued. “We’ve picked up a couple attorneys that have been smuggling.”
The sherriff said one young man who lived at home with his parents didn’t need the money but simply wanted notoriety.
Coe also said gangs used smuggling runs as a test for potential members.
The Kinney County Sheriff’s Department reported high speed chases every day in the month of February—an unprecedented amount. The officers set a record of 200 pursuits in the year of 2020.
Kinney County Sheriffs arrested and prosecuted 6,000 people for trespassing and 1,800 for human smuggling.
Instagram, Craigslist, Facebook and Snapchat allowed posts recruiting human smugglers on their platform as well, but made efforts to remove many of the posts.
