Staff Reports
A Guatemalan by the name of Jose Kincinia De Jesus Villagran-Perez recently found himself at a standstill after crossing into Reynosa, just south of the U.S. border. Upon his arrival, he quickly became a cog in the wheel of a smuggling operation that was struggling to find clients. Apparently, there weren’t enough people willing to make the dangerous journey, and it seems that cartel operatives are now wishing they paid better attention to the seismic shifts taking place at the border since President Trump left office.
Just a year ago, in the same month, over 23,000 Guatemalans were racing towards the U.S. southern border, but a sharp decline over the past year has left Border Patrol agents feeling somewhat bored. Last month, those same agents reported catching fewer than 1,500 Guatemalans. It’s not just the Guatemalans who are absent; the numbers for Romanians, Venezuelans, Mexicans, and others have plummeted as well. The cartels must be scratching their heads, wondering how a simple change in policy could make their revenue streams evaporate overnight.
The cartel wars are just beginning! I have to say it is about time!
They wanted a "new world order", well between this peace and trade #trump is giving it to them!Mexico's cartels 'boxed in' by Trump's success at the border – https://t.co/Ceg2LkdtPq – @washtimes
— Brian Bonner (@brianbonner) March 20, 2025
The magnitude of this drop is inducing a chain reaction throughout the Americas. With fewer migrants making the trek, many are deciding that turning around mid-journey is their best bet. Meanwhile, U.S. deportation officers—who once toiled away at processing new arrivals—are back to harassing the regular transgressors of our laws who, contrary to popular belief, don’t come in just through the southern border. This also ties into how the cartels are feeling the squeeze like never before, as one expert noted that they may resort to violent retaliations—a hallmark of their business model.
And speaking of business, the economic implications of this border shift are noteworthy, especially for those engaging in international smuggling. Reports indicate that the cost for a ticket on the smuggling express has skyrocketed. For instance, one Guatemalan claimed to have paid nearly $17,000 for his journey, a far cry from the relative bargains prior to the stricter policies instigated under Trump’s administration. Some Central Americans are reportedly coughing up almost $30,000 to make it to the U.S., while Mexicans and others have also felt the pinch, with prices doubling for many. At this point, it seems that the cartels are more interested in survival than providing an affordable service.
Statistics show that not only have illegal crossings dropped significantly, but there has been a complete lack of encounters with individuals on terrorist watch lists in recent months. This marks a noteworthy triumph for border security and shines a light on the stark contrast with the previous administration’s struggles as migrants with criminal records and gang affiliations have also decreased. It seems the cartels are knee-deep in trouble, losing their business seen as an essential thread in their criminal enterprise.
The remarkable changes at the border serve as a strong reminder that chaos is not inevitable; rather, it can be addressed with coherent policies and firm actions. The recent statistics should serve as a wake-up call to the current administration and an indictment of the previous one, demonstrating that the chaos witnessed was far from unavoidable and absolutely preventable. If anyone doubted the effects of Trump’s border policies, just ask Jose Kincinia De Jesus Villagran-Perez—though he may prefer to stay silent after that long wait.
