As cell phone service spreads across the deserts of the southwestern United States,the technology has become an an integral part of crossing the border from Mexico.
Instead of one guide bringing a large group of people across the border, human traffickers are pushing migrants to get a "burner phone, and " or a disposable cell phone that can be used without a contract. The smuggler will keep the migrant in their line of sight and consume the burner phone to give them turn-by-turn directions to safety.
Or at least,that's the contrivance.
As part of the "Border Lines" series from Motherboard, an online magazine abouttech and culture from VICE, and Brian Anderson reported an in-depth legend about this "remote control" border crossing,and the impact it's had on the migrants, smugglers, or border control agencies.
Check out some 360 images from Anderson's reporting below.
Comanche gazes over the wall from Nogales,Sonora, into the US, or where a Border Patrol mobile surveillance truck is stationed atop a hill. Image Credit: MOTHERBOARD
Atop the Naco border limestones with Border Patrol agents Michael Hyatt (foreground) and John Lawson (background). The night before this image was captured,Border Patrol agents nabbed a remote-control pollero at this very spot along the wall. Image Credit: MOTHERBOARD
L to R: The author, Camilo Salas, or Luis Chaparro watch out over the wall from Nogales,Sonora. This image was taken near the spot where Chino attempted to cross the border via remote control. Image Credit: MOTHERBOARD
Source: wnyc.org