Technology Aiding Illegal Immigrants

Innovations in technology have helped illegal immigrants get an upper hand in the back and forth cat and mouse game of crossing the border into the United States. Technology has enabled "cybercoyotes" as they call them, to guide hopeful illegal immigrants across the border into the United States of America in hopes of finding a better life. Some immigrants pay thousands of dollars to these "cybercoyotes" whom stand on mountains and guide the illegal immigrants by text messages across the border. "Aiding the process are numerous spotters, who monitor the southern Arizona desert from lookout points and help steer the migrants, as well as drug shipments, away from the authorities."   

These "cybercoyotes" have resorted to this tactic because it has become extremely dangerous to be caught smuggling people into the states, with increasing sentences. Scared of being put into jail or facing steep fines, they have turned to technology to help them evade the border patrol and bring their customers safely into the United States of America. "Mobile phones are ubiquitous in Mexico; many migrants consider them essential when crossing, right up there with sturdy shoes and jugs of water."

Using technology to help save illegal immigrants cross the border is also being considered. A cellphone GPS app that tells illegal immigrants where the closest water station is, could save many lives of people that have become lost during their crossing. "The ACLU and Mexico's National Commission on Human rights estimate as many as 5,600 people have died trying to cross the border in the last 15 years." When smugglers abandon the immigrants that pay them to guide them through the desert, or cellphone batteries die, many illegal immigrants die from dehydration when they cannot find any water. This cellphone app seeks to reduce the number of deaths when crossing the border. 

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/us/09coyotes.html?_r=1&ref=us

Source: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/12/cellphone-gps-app-could-help-undocumented-workers-cross-border/1