TikTok becomes a tool of choice in cat-and-mouse game between migrant smugglers and authorities

MEXICO CITY — The videos roll through TikTok in 30-second flashes. Depiction of migrants with faces covered by emojis giving testimony that they arrived safely to the U.S. as part of the smugglers social media campaign to build their brand of trust, based on hundreds of TikTok videos reviewed by the AP. Adults, children and the elderly.” Hundreds of videos examined by the AP feature thick wads of cash, people crossing through the border fence by night, helicopters and airplanes supposedly used by human smugglers known as coyotes, smugglers cutting open cacti in the desert for migrants to drink from and even crops of lettuce with text reading “The American fields are ready!” The videos are often layered over heavy northern Mexican music with lyrics waxing romantically about being traffickers. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Narratives shift based on the political environment and immigration policies in the U.S. During the Biden administration, posts would advertise getting migrants access to asylum applications through the administration’s CBP One app, which Trump ended. Illustration of smugglers taking selfies and other photos of migrants on their journeys to later post them online as a way to advertise their smuggling, based on hundreds of TikTok videos reviewed by the AP.