Border Patrol Agent Blows Whistle on Juvenile-Smuggling Network
In this 18-minute video from O’Keefe Media Group, Border Patrol Agent Monica Cruz, who is stationed in the Welton, Arizona sector, blows the whistle on a deeply flawed system that allows juvenile smugglers (known as “foot guides”) to continuously transport groups of illegal migrants across the border without facing prosecution. Cruz has made the extraordinary decision to go public, despite it being against Border Patrol policy: “Don’t fear the government and what they can do to you,” she declared. “I’m just standing here. Just hear what I’m trying to say. Help me.”
“These smugglers are teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 17,” Cruz revealed. “Due to a loophole in American law, when these teenagers are apprehended, they are simply released back to Mexico, only to repeat the same smuggling route with no fear of legitimate consequences.”
One such smuggler, known by the nickname “Timmy,” has been apprehended and released over 20 times. “That means he smuggled people 20 times,” Cruz reiterated. “But [the foot guides are] doing it on behalf of somebody else. They’re doing it on behalf of the cartels. … And until something changes, this will keep happening.”
Editor’s Note: A transcript follows the embedded video; it was automatically generated and lightly edited, so please be aware there could be typos or other small errors. The Stream is working toward a transcription service that does fast, accurate, and reliable work; thank you in advance for your patience!
00:00:00:03 – 00:00:23:17
James O’Keefe
Border Patrol agent Monica Cruz in the Welton, Arizona, sector is blowing the whistle on a deeply flawed system in which juvenile smugglers, also known as foot guides, are able to bring multiple groups of illegal aliens across the border on a regular basis. The smugglers are teenagers whose ages range from 14 to 17 years old, given a loophole in the American law.
00:00:23:19 – 00:00:52:11
James O’Keefe
When the teenage smugglers are apprehended by Border Patrol, they are released back to Mexico repeatedly, only to repeat the same smuggling route with no fear of legitimate consequences. One particular smuggler, known by the nickname Timmy, has been apprehended and released over 20 times, which means he smuggled people 20 times. Monica Cruz has made the extraordinary decision to go public, on the record, which is against Border Patrol policy.
00:00:52:11 – 00:01:01:04
Monica Cruz
And don’t fear the government and what they can do to you. I’m just standing here to hear what I’m trying to say. Help me.
00:01:01:06 – 00:01:07:01
James O’Keefe
This is her story and the story of teenage smugglers Timmy and Jimmy.
00:01:07:03 – 00:01:23:23
James O’Keefe
But we’re here with Border Patrol agent blowing the whistle on the individual who was apprehended 20 times. Taking this path right here in the middle of nowhere. And Arizona. Let’s keep going. This individual Timmy apprehended 20 times, but they’re doing on behalf of somebody else.
00:01:24:00 – 00:01:29:07
Monica Cruz
They’re doing it on behalf of the cartels. This is a scout location. That little peak right there.
00:01:29:08 – 00:01:30:10
James O’Keefe
They go to peak to peak.
00:01:30:10 – 00:01:31:16
Monica Cruz
Peak to peak to peak.
00:01:31:16 – 00:01:46:06
James O’Keefe
Maybe that’s what we should do tomorrow.
Security
Climb up the mountain?
James O’Keefe
Yeah.
Security
We don’t know if there’s anything up there?
James O’Keefe
This is some challenging terrain here — these rocks. You know, be careful with your feet.
Cameraman
You heard that whistle just now?
00:01:46:08 – 00:01:50:02
Monica Cruz
I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re behind that ridge. Just looking out.
00:01:50:04 – 00:02:04:20
James O’Keefe
Yeah, but that whistle was so close. What you should be doing from this moment forward is understanding that we are being watched. We are being monitored and they are whistling.
00:02:05:19 – 00:02:06:13
James O’Keefe
Hello.
00:02:06:15 – 00:02:07:09
Monica Cruz
Well. Hello there.
00:02:07:10 – 00:02:08:23
James O’Keefe
Nice to meet you.
00:02:09:01 – 00:02:09:19
Monica Cruz
Nice to meet you, finally.
00:02:09:19 – 00:02:12:19
James O’Keefe
Nice to meet you. Yeah. So you ready to do this?
00:02:12:21 – 00:02:14:00
Monica Cruz
I’m ready.
00:02:14:02 – 00:02:15:08
James O’Keefe
You’re ready? So what’s the plan for today?
00:02:15:08 – 00:02:19:07
Monica Cruz
The plan today? Let’s capture what these little guys walk through.
00:02:19:11 – 00:02:24:23
James O’Keefe
The cartel and smugglers are recruiting children in the United States through video games like Roblox.
00:02:25:05 – 00:02:48:02
Monica Cruz
We were just talking about how social media has impacted, a lot of the recruitment. My kid in 2020 received a message on Roblox, and it said, hey, do you want to make some extra money? And of course, as a mother, I panicked and started looking into it. And then there I realized that they’re soliciting our kids here in the U.S.
00:02:48:02 – 00:02:49:15
James O’Keefe
Soliciting our kids for what?
00:02:49:18 – 00:03:05:01
Monica Cruz
For smuggling. We’ve had plenty of juvenile cases where underage U.S. citizens were hired to pick up, but they never received any kind of consequence because we don’t have a current guideline to prosecute.
00:03:05:03 – 00:03:23:10
James O’Keefe
Border Patrol Agent Monica was inspired by our film Line in the Sand, when we tracked the entire journey of the unaccompanied children from migrant shelters like Southwest Key via transportation specialists like MVM to their final destination to so-called sponsors. And when did you decide I’m going to do this?
00:03:23:11 – 00:03:39:04
Monica Cruz
I watched your documentary. You followed where these kids went after we released them. In 2016, I was transport. I used to be the one transporting these children to Southwest Key’s locations.
00:03:39:09 – 00:03:52:01
James O’Keefe
This map, provided by Monica, the Border Patrol agent, shows all the apprehensions of Timmy, one of the teenage smuggling guides, in the area south of Interstate 8 and the Mexican border just south of Yuma, Arizona.
00:03:52:06 – 00:04:18:11
Monica Cruz
So this is the location where I believe when they make it here, they look over towards the mountain. There’s a mountain with the A on it, and they say, okay, now it’s go time. Let’s get transportation started. They rock up, as in they hide and wait for them to get picked up. And you can see how easily it is to get out here. Anybody can come here today and pick them up straight from that mountain right there.
00:04:18:11 – 00:04:20:02
James O’Keefe
And that’s the what is that called there?
00:04:20:03 – 00:05:00:11
Monica Cruz
So these are the Bryans. They’re the Bryan Mountains. We are technically about six miles to eight miles straight back from Mexico. Now, there’s a process. You bring them in, there’s two days, and you have to get them out. But these smugglers who happen to be juveniles, they know — they already know that they’re going to get caught. They’re going to get sent back. And even though they got caught, they still get paid because they’re they’re brought in as decoys. But the juveniles is genius because who else can you say? Hey, kid, you may get caught, but it’s all right. We’re still going to pay you.
00:05:00:13 – 00:05:06:14
James O’Keefe
How many times did this individual get apprehended?
00:05:06:16 – 00:05:09:00
Monica Cruz
Mr. Timmy. Timmy has over 20 apprehensions.
00:05:09:01 – 00:05:11:10
James O’Keefe
Timmy. Why do you call him Timmy?
00:05:11:14 – 00:05:14:09
Monica Cruz
Just the nickname and not be —
00:05:14:09 – 00:05:14:20
James O’Keefe
And how old is Timmy?
00:05:15:02 – 00:05:18:11
Monica Cruz
Timmy. Now is considered 17 years old.
00:05:18:11 – 00:05:43:03
James O’Keefe
Timmy and Jimmy are just two of many teenage smugglers. This document provided by Monica Cruz shows just in this area, there are many other teenage foot guides apprehended eight times, seven times, four times. And eventually, just a year or two later, these teenage foot guides become adults and continue with their criminal activities. And oftentimes we don’t know their exact ages.
00:05:43:05 – 00:05:48:17
James O’Keefe
This individual, Timmy apprehended 20 times and apprehended by whom?
00:05:48:18 – 00:05:50:11
Monica Cruz
Border Patrol. Border Patrol and —
00:05:50:11 – 00:05:51:08
James O’Keefe
And given to whom?
00:05:51:11 – 00:05:53:09
Monica Cruz
To Yuma Processing Center.
00:05:53:09 – 00:05:59:04
James O’Keefe
Yuma Processing center is run by the feds or the state or —
Monica Cruz
No, it’s still federal facility.
James O’Keefe
And then what happens?
00:05:59:09 – 00:06:17:02
Monica Cruz
And then the — Timmy we’ll allow to talk to the Mexican consulate the next morning, because we have a two day timeline to get them out. The next day, he talks to the consulate, and then they return back home. It’s considered a voluntary return. That that’s the whole process.
James O’Keefe
You’re done.
Monica Cruz
We’re done with them.
00:06:17:02 – 00:06:18:22
James O’Keefe
And then they appear again.
00:06:19:04 – 00:06:20:15
Monica Cruz
And they appear again.
00:06:20:17 – 00:06:22:04
James O’Keefe
They’re doing on behalf of somebody else.
00:06:22:04 – 00:06:24:16
Monica Cruz
They’re doing it on behalf of the cartels.
00:06:28:16 – 00:06:53:21
James O’Keefe
So we’re standing outside the Mexican consulate in Yuma, Arizona. This consulate acts as an advocate for juveniles. They do not address the smuggling activities, including Timmy, 20 times doing this criminal activity. No one’s been prosecuted. No one held accountable. The Mexican consulate participating in this activity, facilitating this activity. No bueno.
00:06:53:23 – 00:07:17:05
James O’Keefe
The name of the person who heads up the Mexican consulate in Yuma, Arizona is a woman named Dulce Maria Valley Alvarez. Alvarez knows the identity of the juveniles, but they do not share that with Border Patrol. The Mexican consulate’s involvement is limited to welfare checks and arranging pickups in Mexico. They have more information but do not assist in verifying identities for prosecution.
00:07:17:07 – 00:07:27:16
Monica Cruz
So this is the center of the mountains. This is Timmy’s — one of Timmy’s routes. He pops up out of that side.
00:07:27:18 – 00:07:29:02
James O’Keefe
So they go right along the interstate.
00:07:29:06 – 00:07:50:20
Monica Cruz
Yeah, just along the — I mean, anywhere you can walk up to. So you can get here by foot, by climbing through those mountains.
This is a scout location. That little peak right there used to be a scout location. They have a vast view of the whole area. If in case law enforcement is near.
00:07:50:22 – 00:08:09:04
James O’Keefe
Monica also provided images of scouts on top of locations — scouts in training — images of carpet shoes they wore to avoid detection, and showed us the specific route that the scouts take along the jagged edge of a desolate ridge about an hour drive down a bumpy road from the interstate.
00:08:09:04 – 00:08:16:04
Monica Cruz
Now Timmy’s route, all through these mountains here.
00:08:16:04 – 00:08:17:09
James O’Keefe
So there’s spotters up in the hills.
00:08:17:09 – 00:08:19:02
Monica Cruz
Yeah.
00:08:19:02 – 00:08:20:01
James O’Keefe
What do they do, just sit on a rock?
00:08:20:01 – 00:08:35:05
Monica Cruz
They they have their own little nest
James O’Keefe
I want to see the nest.
Monica Cruz
I do too. I’ve seen him on pictures.
For us Border Patrol agents, it’s unsafe to go up there. We have no idea if they are armed, what kind of traps they may have laid out.
00:08:35:08 – 00:08:40:03
James O’Keefe
They’ve got booby traps and they hike from point — Is it the peak? They go peak to peak to peak?
00:08:40:03 – 00:08:43:22
Monica Cruz
Peak to peak to peak.
James O’Keefe
Is that what they do?
Monica Cruz
Yeah, it’s the highest vantage point.
00:08:43:22 – 00:08:50:15
James O’Keefe
Maybe that’s what we should do tomorrow.
Security
Hike up a mountain? That we don’t know if there’s anything up there?
00:08:50:17 – 00:09:08:08
James O’Keefe
The only issue with the plan was the ridgeline isn’t really a hiking trail. It’s a treacherous, tiny pyramid of jagged rocks along a narrow, thin summit. Basically unhikable and unstable. But we chose to hike it anyway.
00:09:08:10 – 00:09:15:11
James O’Keefe
Okay. So right behind me, this ridge here — we’ve been told that this is the spot where you can see into Mexico.
00:09:15:16 – 00:09:38:00
James O’Keefe
It’s the highest point. That’s where the scouts are. And, our Border Patrol agent says, if you sit up on the hill, don’t go to the best looking spot. That’s usually where the scouts are. Don’t go to the highest point. That’s usually where the scouts are. But that’s what we’re going to go. The top of that ridge. All right, let’s go hiking.
00:09:38:02 – 00:09:58:18
James O’Keefe
We’re hoping to traverse the ridge and see where these nests are with these scouts. It’s not going to be an easy climb. You sit up on that hill? Don’t go to the best looking spot. That’s usually where the scouts are. Don’t get rocked. What does he mean by rocked?
I mean, this is like — this is some challenging terrain here. These rocks, you know, be careful with your feet.
00:10:05:20 – 00:10:13:13
James O’Keefe
As we go along the side of this ridge with these scouts — a little possible spot where they have little fire. This is the path they take. We’re gonna walk — we’re going to walk the path of Timmy.
00:10:16:18 – 00:10:42:08
James O’Keefe
Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Whoa. It’s like we’re billy goats. I mean, you’re like a gazelle.
This ridge here is not an easy thing to climb. You got loose rocks, you know? And yet these scouts, they just climb up here in the dead of night. You know, one slip and you break your head.
00:10:42:08 – 00:10:50:07
James O’Keefe
All we saw was some contraband and some small caves where scouts would keep items and keep warm.
00:10:50:09 – 00:10:53:21
James O’Keefe
This — Is that a campfire right there. What’s this campfire?
00:10:53:23 – 00:10:59:18
Monica Cruz
So this is one of the last spots before getting closer to the highway.
00:10:59:20 – 00:11:04:04
James O’Keefe
What are these bullets?
00:11:04:06 – 00:11:10:10
Monica Cruz
Live fire. It’s a little spot where they congregate and maybe shot some rounds.
00:11:10:12 – 00:11:11:16
James O’Keefe
Zip ties.
00:11:11:17 – 00:11:14:02
Monica Cruz
It is not uncommon to see that.
00:11:14:04 – 00:11:16:08
James O’Keefe
So we’re following the path of Timmy right now.
00:11:16:08 – 00:11:17:20
Monica Cruz
Timmy? Yes.
00:11:17:22 – 00:11:32:12
James O’Keefe
We’re here with Border Patrol agent blowing the whistle on the individual who was apprehended 20 times. Taking this path right here in the middle of nowhere in Arizona. Let’s keep going. Is this the hiking path right here?
00:11:32:13 – 00:11:34:02
Monica Cruz
This is the actual —
00:11:34:02 – 00:11:34:20
James O’Keefe
You can see a path.
00:11:34:20 – 00:11:40:01
Monica Cruz
Absolutely. This has been used time and time again.
00:11:40:03 – 00:11:56:12
James O’Keefe
So this spot right here, you see how this bottoms out right here. This is a high traffic area where a lot of these teenage boys, including Timmy, come through this direction, right through this section here. We’ve got spotters in the hills watching us right now here in Arizona.
00:11:56:14 – 00:12:17:20
James O’Keefe
The final step was going all the way to the wall, where Timmy and Jimmy began each of their 20 plus journeys. Now, this section of the wall, less than a mile long, is particularly dangerous because it is so far removed, and on each side of this small section of the wall featured gaping holes and a rockface that people could climb.
00:12:17:22 – 00:12:24:00
James O’Keefe
So we’re going to the wall. I know you have limited time, so we got to make moves. Anything before we get in the cars.
00:12:24:05 – 00:12:48:03
Monica Cruz
No, let’s get ready for a bumpy ride.
00:12:48:05 – 00:12:51:06
James O’Keefe
All right, so where are we?
00:12:51:08 – 00:12:53:12
Monica Cruz
We are at monument 190.
00:12:53:14 – 00:13:04:14
Monica Cruz
What you see behind me is Mexico. Strategically for smugglers, this is a great spot.
James O’Keefe
Why?
Monica Cruz
It’s easy to get across. And they hide themselves within the ridges of the mountains.
00:13:04:14 – 00:13:06:01
James O’Keefe
Where do they get across?
00:13:06:03 – 00:13:08:10
Monica Cruz
At that end there. You could just walk right over.
00:13:08:16 – 00:13:13:03
James O’Keefe
So we walked down there? So this is not a secure place.
00:13:13:03 – 00:13:15:18
Monica Cruz
No it’s not. Anybody can come in.
00:13:15:20 – 00:13:17:18
James O’Keefe
So where do they usually cross here?
00:13:17:19 – 00:13:18:19
Monica Cruz
Up in that corner there.
00:13:18:19 – 00:13:29:12
James O’Keefe
I mean you could probably — you could probably get through there, right. Yeah, you can definitely sneak through there.
00:13:29:14 – 00:13:39:08
James O’Keefe
You’re in Mexico now. He’s like Gumby.
00:13:39:10 – 00:13:42:04
James O’Keefe
So do they come across — They come on the end?
00:13:42:06 – 00:13:46:13
Monica Cruz
Yes. Timmy definitely fits through there.
00:13:46:15 – 00:13:48:00
James O’Keefe
Okay, I see.
00:13:48:02 – 00:14:02:19
Monica Cruz
A common entry point for a lot of smugglers to include our juvenile smugglers, Timmy and Jimmy and the rest of them we haven’t been able to identify. They have entered, but they haven’t given us their true identity.
James O’Keefe
I see.
00:14:02:21 – 00:14:04:11
James O’Keefe
Are we being watched right now?
00:14:04:13 – 00:14:05:19
Monica Cruz
Absolutely.
00:14:05:21 – 00:14:08:06
Cameraman
You heard that whistle? Just now?
00:14:08:08 – 00:14:16:15
Monica Cruz
There’ll be whistles. Don’t know what they mean, but it will be one single whistle — two back to back and then three back to back.
00:14:16:15 – 00:14:19:14
James O’Keefe
Where was the whistle coming from?
00:14:19:16 – 00:14:21:21
Monica Cruz
Not the saddle, but that ridge right here.
00:14:21:23 – 00:14:29:21
James O’Keefe
How far away would the have to be?
Monica Cruz
I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re behind that ridge. And just looking out. We can’t see —
00:14:29:21 – 00:14:33:08
James O’Keefe
Yeah, but that whistle was so close. Where are they? Just up in the mountains?
00:14:33:09 – 00:14:33:19
Monica Cruz
Up in the mountains.
00:14:33:19 – 00:14:38:01
James O’Keefe
Do they have little lights when I come here at night.
Monica Cruz
No.
James O’Keefe
No lights.
00:14:38:03 – 00:14:44:02
Monica Cruz
No, it’s a light light discipline, meaning you work in darkness. They already know the routes.
00:14:45:03 – 00:15:05:12
Monica Cruz
Timmy and his size could fit through the rails, I’m sure. He’s so skinny. As far as the other one, Jimmy is actually a colleague of Timmy’s.
James O’Keefe
Timmy and Jimmy.
Monica Cruz
Timmy and Jimmy. That is why we use those monikers. They only know one thing: I must take the merchandise across.
00:15:05:14 – 00:15:06:14
James O’Keefe
What do you mean by merchandise?
00:15:06:16 – 00:15:07:15
Monica Cruz
That’s how they refer to the group of people. That alone shows zero care for these commodities as humans.
00:15:17:02 – 00:15:17:23
James O’Keefe
Is it about money?
00:15:18:01 – 00:15:19:10
Monica Cruz
It’s always about money.
00:15:19:10 – 00:15:21:01
James O’Keefe
It’s about money.
00:15:21:03 – 00:15:43:16
Monica Cruz
These young kids idolized cartel life.
James O’Keefe
Why?
Monica Cruz
They think that that is a success. The more money you have. Gold money, girl, they constantly have them in their social medias, giving a thumbs up to the cartel’s violent killing. They think that is something to aspire to.
00:15:43:17 – 00:15:48:05
James O’Keefe
Right here. Look at this. It’s an open door.
00:15:48:08 – 00:15:54:05
Monica Cruz
Open door. But they can bring a little motorcycle through them.
00:15:54:07 – 00:15:58:18
James O’Keefe
I wondered how much money these teenage boys help the cartel bring in.
00:15:58:19 – 00:16:00:09
James O’Keefe
How much do they pay?
00:16:00:11 – 00:16:20:20
Monica Cruz
$10,000 from the person. Out of that $10,000, anywhere from $8 to $1000 per head for the foot guide. The foot guide is only making a small percentage of the big bulk of what is charged to each illegal alien.
00:16:20:22 – 00:16:30:07
Monica Cruz
They’re making anywhere between $3,000 to $4,000 per group. So where’s the incentive to stop for these kids?
00:16:30:12 – 00:16:32:14
James O’Keefe
That’s a good question.
00:16:32:16 – 00:16:46:20
James O’Keefe
The only solution it seemed was a change in U.S. policy regarding these teenage foot guides being finally held accountable. We sent this story to Tom Homan, the new border czar and his team and intend to report their reaction when we have it.
00:16:46:22 – 00:17:12:17
Monica Cruz
We as law enforcement have to keep our eyes open, our training on board, and always, always watch each other’s back. So let’s take this moment, get better, be proactive, and don’t fear the government and what they can do to you. I’m just standing here. Just hear what I’m trying to say. Help me and we will then move forward.
00:17:12:19 – 00:17:17:05
James O’Keefe
Appreciate you very much.
Monica Cruz
Thank you, I appreciate you too.
James O’Keefe
Thank you.
00:17:17:07 – 00:17:47:23
James O’Keefe
Our Citizen Journalism Foundation, a fully tax deductible 501c3, supports these whistleblowers, tells their story, gives them a platform, gives them legal support, and if they are retaliated against, gives them financial support. Please help the cause by writing a check to Citizen Journalism Foundation. Today you can go to cjfusa.org or okeefemediagroup.com to learn how to make that donation and where to send in your support to keep these stories coming forward.
00:17:48:01 – 00:18:15:14
James O’Keefe
And stay tuned for follow up footage and getting the smugglers themselves on audio and videotape as we intend to produce the next installments of Line in the Sand.
What you should be doing from this moment moving forward is understanding that we are being watched, we are being monitored, and they are whistling. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to split up and I want two videographers in a one, Location A. I want it to videographers video in Location B. It might take hours. It’s an endurance test.