State Department slaps sanctions on companies that orchestrate illegal immigration

The State Department announced new visa sanctions Wednesday aimed at people who operate charter companies that fly or bus illegal immigrants heading to the U.S.

Spokesman Matt Miller said the goal is the target outfits that “prey” on the migrants.

“No one should profit from vulnerable migrants — not smugglers, private companies, public officials or governments,” he said.

Visa sanctions mean the U.S. would deny legal entry to anyone deemed in violation of the policy. Mr. Miller said this policy applies to owners, executives and senior officials of the companies.

The policy expands on one the department announced last year that focused on charter flights out of Nicaragua. Companies, apparently with the assistance of Nicaragua’s government, would sell package deals to would-be migrants.

The new policy is not just limited to Nicaraguan outfits. And it includes bus and maritime transportation as well.

---

SEE ALSO: Texas moves to shut down charity that houses illegal immigrants over smuggling allegations

---

Migrants regularly tell Border Patrol agents the details of their journey, including paying as much as $20,000 to be shepherded from Central America up through Mexico and to the U.S. border, where they make the final push across.

Those willing to pay the most can fly into an airport in northern Mexico and be driven across or, in California, ride boats along the coast. The next tier is for those who get bused up to the border, walk or wade across, then be picked up and driven deeper into the U.S. The cheapest option is usually for those willing to walk for days in remote parts of America.

The State Department’s sanctions seem to be aimed at helping migrants reach the U.S. border.

The irony is that the federal government pays hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations inside the U.S. to house and transport illegals once they reach here.

“Seems like the administration is blaming or punishing transportation companies instead of changing their policies that fuel massive waves of illegal immigration,” said Robert Law, who served as a senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Trump administration.