Border Patrol Agent Monica Cruz, stationed in the Welton, Arizona sector, is blowing the whistle on a deeply flawed system that allows juvenile smugglers, known as “foot guides” to continuously transport groups of illegal migrants across the border without facing prosecution. Cruz has made the extraordinary decision to go public, despite it being against Border Patrol policy: “Don’t fear the government and what they can do to you,” she declared. “I’m just standing here. Just hear what I’m trying to say. Help me.”
“These smugglers are teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 17,” Cruz revealed. “Due to a loophole in American law, when these teenagers are apprehended, they are simply released back to Mexico, only to repeat the same smuggling route with no fear of legitimate consequences.”
One such smuggler, known by the nickname “Timmy,” has been apprehended and released over 20 times. “That means he smuggled people 20 times,” Cruz reiterated. “But they’re [foot guides] doing it on behalf of somebody else. They’re doing it on behalf of the cartels.” Cruz further elaborated, “These smugglers, who happen to be juveniles, know they’re going to get caught. They already know they’ll be sent back. And even though they got caught, they still get paid because they’re brought in as decoys.”
While following the route of the foot guides in the Yuma, Arizona terrain, Cruz pointed to a specific landmark, revealing, “That’s a scout location.” Pointing to another, she added, “That little peak right there used to be a scout location. They have a vast view of the whole area, just in case law enforcement is near.”
Cruz furthered, “We’ve had plenty of juvenile cases where underage U.S. citizens were hired to pick up, but they never received any kind of consequence because we don’t have a current guideline to prosecute.”
Cruz revealed that the Mexican consulate in Yuma, Arizona, plays a key role in the process but does not intervene to stop the smuggling operations. “This consulate acts as an advocate for juveniles,” she said. “They do not address the smuggling activities. Timmy has done this 20 times. No one’s been prosecuted. No one held accountable.”
As Cruz put it, “They’re doing it on behalf of the cartels. And until something changes, this will keep happening.”
OMG has reached out to Tom Homan for comment on the use of juvenile foot guides by cartels and the legal loophole that allows them to be detained and released repeatedly, and are awaiting his response.
