Smugglers holding migrants for up to $10K ransom at Texas stash houses, says FBI

The FBI claims that an increasing number of cartel smugglers are holding migrants they help cross the U.S.-Mexico border for ransom at Texas stash houses.

After sneaking migrants across the border, the cartels ask their friends or family to pay between $3,000 to up to $10,000 to set them free. During that time, the migrants are kept in “deplorable conditions in stash houses in El Paso,” said FBI El Paso. 

So far this year, the FBI has arrested 15 suspects in kidnappings for ransom incidents, an FBI El Paso spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey said that often, the family members or friends of the migrants are afraid to ask for help or talk to authorities because of their illegal status. 

"Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of these victims, not their immigration status," Downey said. "These victims endure so many frightening situations along their journey moving up towards the United States, only to find themselves being threatened with violence or become victims of violent acts." 

"We need family members to report these kidnapping for ransom incidents immediately to the nearest Consulate or Embassy or our office. Seconds matter in these incidents to ensure the safe rescue of their loved ones," Downey added. 

"As a community, we should be concerned about the increase of these kidnappings and the threat they pose to the public safety of our community. We need the public’s help to see suspicious activity occurring in their neighborhood to report it to law enforcement and help protect a vulnerable population," he continued. 

On June 7, FBI El Paso, with the help of other agencies, rescued 23 undocumented migrants who had been kidnapped and threatened in exchange for money in a residential area of northeast El Paso. The victims were immigrants from Guatemala, Ecuador, and Mexico. Two suspects were arrested at the scene and taken into federal custody. 

By July 8, FBI El Paso and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) have rescued 88 victims from such ransom incidents as they "continue to see an increase in extortion crimes directly affecting undocumented immigrants who have paid human smugglers to bring them across the United States-Mexico border."