Human smuggling dangers increase with summer heat

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Homeland Security Investigations emphasizes the increasing danger of human smuggling with the summer heat.

Human smuggling is a multi-billion dollar industry with thousands of migrants entering the United States illegally every year. HSI is asking families in the Rio Grande Valley not to hire a human smuggler to bring their family members into the country because of the dangers it poses.

"Family members here should not contract a human smuggler to bring your family into the United States," HSI Special Agent, Mark Lippa said. "These human smuggling organizations, treat the migrants they smuggle like they're a commodity.

Lippa addressed concerns over heat during human smuggling attempts. He said HSI encounters many cases of heat exhaustion, dehydration and death.

Box cars and tractor-trailers are common places to hide migrants that are being smuggled into the country. Lippa said the temperatures in those places can reach 120 degrees during the summer.

"Oftentimes we see situations where migrants are p...