Justin De La Torre, Chief Patrol Agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector, highlighted the financial implications of illegal crossings in a statement on X. He referenced a 2021 case where smuggling fees amounted to $6,000 per individual within an 80-person group, generating approximately $500,000 for cartels.
“Crossing the border illegally isn’t free – it’s a business,” said De La Torre, Border Patrol Chief. “This Mexican national, who was arrested in Las Vegas, paid $6,000 to a smuggler in October of 2021. He was just ONE of 80 in his group, which yielded the cartel nearly half a million dollars. Illegal immigration fuels the cartels and puts billions in their pockets.”
According to the U.S. Border Patrol, the Yuma Sector covers 126 miles of border across Arizona and California, with a responsibility area exceeding 181,000 square miles. Agents operate stations in Yuma, Wellton, and Blythe, supported by checkpoints and aviation assets. Their mission is to interdict illegal entries and disrupt smuggling routes along the Colorado River, desert corridors, and agricultural zones. The sector collaborates with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies to address cross-border crime and rescue incidents in remote areas.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) notes that smuggling fees vary based on route, risk, and services provided. Charges for North America often reach thousands of dollars per migrant. Financial intelligence officials estimate that human smuggling along the southwest border generates billions annually. A 2023 alert from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), citing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) analysis, estimates revenues at roughly $2–$6 billion per year.
De La Torre’s post indicated that at $6,000 per person for an 80-person group yields about $480,000—”nearly half a million dollars.” This aligns with broader findings that smuggling operations aggregate fees across multiple travelers and tiers of service.
De La Torre became Chief Patrol Agent of the Yuma Sector in early 2025 after holding senior roles such as Deputy Chief Patrol Agent in Tucson Sector and field leadership in San Diego. In local interviews, he has emphasized shifting encounter trends and interagency cooperation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the Department of Homeland Security since its establishment in 1924, is tasked with safeguarding borders against illegal entry across its numerous ports of entry.
