Original subtitles

NARRATOR: THE U.S. MEXICAN BORDER.

OFFICER: SIT DOWN... SIT DOWN.

NARRATOR: MEXICAN CARTELS NOW DOMINATE A BILLION DOLLAR

INDUSTRY EXPORTING UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS.

VICENTE: WE GOT GUNS.

THAT'S TO PROTECT US.

PROTECT THEM.

NARRATOR: FAIL TO PAY THE BILL AND

THE DEAL GOES SOUR FAST.

AGENT BALLISTREA: THESE MIGRANTS ARE NOT A HUMAN BEING TO THEM.

NARRATOR: STRIPPED OF THEIR DIGNITY...

MIGRANTS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD.

MAGDALENA: IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S PROSTITUTION.

WHO'S NOT GONNA PAY FOR SEX?

NARRATOR: BUT IF THE CASH FLOW STOPS.

JAIME: IF YOU DON'T PAY US WHAT WE NEED...

YOU WON'T SEE YOUR FAMILY NO MORE.

NARRATOR: PIMA COUNTY MORGUE... ARIZONA.

DR. HESS: WE HAVE ABOUT 120 REMAINS INSIDE THIS COOLER.

NARRATOR: BAGGED AND TAGGED...

UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT.

DR. HESS: HERE WE HAVE A CASE FROM 2013...

IDENTIFIED AS A JOHN DOE.

HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER.

AND WE JUST HAVE IT LISTED AS DOE.

REMAINS DOWN HERE THAT SAY THEY'RE UNIDENTIFIED.

NARRATOR: THEY ALL DIED CROSSING THE BORDER DESERT.

DR. HESS: HERE'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF FRAGMENTED REMAINS.

WHERE WE HAVE LABELLED 14.

WHICH MEANS REMAINS WERE FOUND IN 2014.

SO WE DON'T HAVE LISTED AS A MAN OR A WOMAN.

HERE IS JUST A CRANIUM.

THESE ARE WHERE THE EYES ARE LOCATED.

WE NO LONGER HAVE A MANDIBLE AND YOU CAN SEE

THAT THE BONE IS WEATHERED AND SUN BLEACHED

AND HAS BEEN ON THE SURFACE OF THE DESERT.

NARRATOR: NOGALES MEXICO... RIGHT ON THE U.S. BORDER.

MIGRANTS ARE DRAWN TO NOGALES BY ITS REPUTATION

AS THE CENTER OF A PEOPLE SMUGGLING OPERATION.

ON THE GROUND IT'S FRANCISCO'S JOB TO KEEP

HIS CLIENTS OUT OF THE MORGUE.

NARRATOR: HE'S A SUCCESSFUL COYOTE...

HIS SECRET IS TRAINING.

NARRATOR: HE TRAINS HIS CLIENTS TO HIDE AND SURVIVE.

THEY PAY UP TO $5,000 TO BE SMUGGLED INTO THE U.S.A.

NARRATOR: FOR FRANCISCO THIS RUN THROUGH IS KEY.

IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION STATE SIDE

HE WON'T GET HIS CUT.

NARRATOR: THIS TRIAL RUN TEACHES THEM SURVIVAL SKILLS

TO HELP MAKE SURE HE GETS HIS MONEY.

NARRATOR: HE SHOWS THEM HOW TO EVADE THE

U.S. BORDER PATROLS.

NARRATOR: NEXT TIME IT'LL BE FOR REAL.

HE WARNS HIS ROOKIES ABOUT THE BORDER FENCE.

NARRATOR: THIS BARRIER IS DESIGNED TO STOP MIGRANTS IN

THEIR TRACKS.

THE CLIMBERS WILL NEED FRANCISCO'S HELP.

NARRATOR: ANY INJURY TAKES A BITE OUT OF HIS PAY CHECK.

NARRATOR: IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PASSPORT NOGALES TO

PHOENIX IS JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS AIR CONDITIONED

CRUISE UP I-19 AND I-10.

BUT FOR FRANCISCO AND HIS CLIENTS THAT JOURNEY MEANS

FIVE DAYS ON FOOT IN THE SONORAN DESERT.

IT'S ONE OF THE HARSHEST PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA.

AT NIGHT IT CAN BE A FREEZER.

DURING THE DAY AN OVEN.

HERE EVERY COYOTE FIGHTS TO KEEP HIS GROUP ALIVE.

NARRATOR: FOR THESE COYOTES A DEAD MIGRANT

IS A FAILED DELIVERY... VALUE $0.

THEY JUST KEEP MOVING.

NARRATOR: TO BEAT THE DESERT MIGRANTS MUST BE WELL PREPARED.

COYOTES TELL MIGRANTS EXACTLY WHAT KEY SUPPLIES

TO BUY FOR THE JOURNEY BECAUSE IN NOGALES...

SHOPPING CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.

NARRATOR: IN THE DESERT EVEN A MINOR ILLNESS

IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

NARRATOR: A LOT OF PHARMACIES IN NOGALES

MEET THE MIGRANTS' NEEDS.

NARRATOR: IN THE DESERT IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE E.R.

NARRATOR: THE HARDWARE STORES ARE ALSO BOOMING.

EVEN EVERYDAY ITEMS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE

MIGRANTS TRAVEL KIT.

NARRATOR: THE STORE KEEPER KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT

THE BORDER CROSSERS MIGHT WANT.

NARRATOR: ERNESTO CAN'T AFFORD A CAMOUFLAGE SUIT

BUT HE CAN DISGUISE THE CLEAR GALLONS OF WATER.

NARRATOR: ERNESTO JUMPED THE BORDER BEFORE

BUT HE WAS DEPORTED.

THIS TIME THE STAKES ARE SKY HIGH.

NARRATOR: THE U.S. BORDER PATROL THROWS ITS MAIN FORCE

INTO CATCHING MIGRANTS LIKE ERNESTO ON THE

U.S. SIDE OF THE BORDER.

AGENT: YEAH 262 MILES OF LINEAR BORDER FRONT .

AND THAT RIGHT THERE IS PROBABLY ABOUT 12 MILES.

THAT'S JUST ONE SECTION.

DOWN IN THE VALLEY THE FENCE GOES ALONG PRETTY MUCH

FOR AS FAR AS WE BUILD A FENCE EASILY.

AND IT STOPS WHERE THE DRAIN TAKES OVER THE

FUNCTION OF A FENCE.

RADIO: YEAH ROGER 31 57... 33.

NARRATOR: A SCOPE TRUCK PINPOINTS A GROUP OF MIGRANTS

NOT FAR FROM THE FENCE.

TIMING IS CRUCIAL.

AGENT: PEOPLE ON THE GROUND CAN HEAR THE

HELICOPTER WITHIN NO LESS THAN A MILE.

JUST BECAUSE THE SCOPE TRUCK HAS A TARGET WE DON'T;

WE DON'T WANNA IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO IT

BECAUSE WE'LL SCATTER THAT ABOUT.

IT ACTUALLY MAKES ROUNDING THEM UP THAT MUCH HARDER.

IF IT'S A GROUP OF TEN THEY WILL RUN LITERALLY

IN TEN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

NARRATOR: THE CHOPPERS HANG BACK WHILE

THE GROUND PATROL MOVES IN.

AGENT: AND THEY'LL ESTIMATE THEIR TIME OF ARRIVAL AT THE

TARGET BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA GET THERE TOO EARLY...

WE DON'T WANNA GET THERE TOO LATE.

SO ONCE THEY GET READY TO POUNCE SO TO SPEAK THEY'LL

CALL US IN SO THAT WE ALL ARRIVE AT THE SAME TIME.

NARRATOR: SURPRISE IS KEY.

AGENT: IF THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING US WITH THE

HELICOPTER TO COME IN PEOPLE ACTUALLY JUMP OUT

OF IT AND CATCH THEM.

NOTICE A LOT OF THE ALIENS ARE WEARING THE SAME

KIND OF CAMOUFLAGE AS THE AGENTS WEAR.

OFFICER: SIT DOWN... SIT DOWN!

AGENT: THAT'S A NEW TREND OVER THE LAST YEAR...

YEAR AND A HALF.

IT ACTUALLY WORKS PRETTY GOOD FOR THEM.

NARRATOR: MORE MONEY AND BOOTS ON THE GROUND HAVE

TURNED THE BORDER LANDS INTO A MILITARIZED ZONE.

IN NOGALES EVERY BORDER PATROL SUCCESS FORCES THE

PEOPLE SMUGGLERS TO UP THEIR GAME.

NARRATOR: TO AVOID THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW...

ILLEGAL MIGRATION HAS GOTTEN ORGANIZED.

NARRATOR: THE CARTELS CONTROL ILLEGAL MIGRATION HERE.

NARRATOR: THE CARTEL SQUEEZES EXTRA CASH

FROM THE MIGRANTS FROM THE GET GO.

NARRATOR: FRANCISCO COLLECTS THE PROTECTION MONEY FOR THE

POWERFUL SINALOA CARTEL.

NARRATOR: THE CARTEL THEN CHARGES UP TO $1500 FOR THE

FIRST LEG OF THE TRIP TO A PICK UP IN ARIZONA.

NOW CARTEL ASSETS... MIGRANTS ARE JEALOUSLY GUARDED.

NARRATOR: THE CARTELS AIM TO MONOPOLIZE ILLEGAL

BORDER CROSSING.

MIGRANTS IN MEXICO GOING IT ALONE RISK BEING HUNTED DOWN.

NARRATOR: THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS HAVE TO BEAT THE

FENCE JUST TO REACH THEIR FIRST OBJECTIVE... A HIGHWAY.

LIKE ARIZONA'S ROUTE 86.

CUTTING WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE DESERT ROUTE 86

RUNS WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE BORDER.

MIGRANTS MUST COVER THIS DISTANCE ON FOOT.

AGENT BALLISTREA IS STALKING A SMALL GROUP

THROUGH THE DESERT.

AGENT BALLISTREA: HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE

FENCE IS MANIPULATED.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THESE TWO BARBED WIRES ARE SITTING

RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER TO ALLOW A PERSON TO CRAWL

THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE.

NARRATOR: THE CBP SWEEPS THE SANDY TRACKS SO NEW

FOOTPRINTS STAND OUT.

AGENT BALLISTREA: WELL YOU SEE THAT THIS FOOTPRINT

WAS VERY-VERY FRESH.

THAT A NEW GROUP HAD PASSED THROUGH.

NARRATOR: SHE FINDS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT MIGRANTS HAVE

RECENTLY PASSED THROUGH... DISCARDED BLACK WATER BOTTLES.

AGENT BALLISTREA: THE CLEAR GALLONS REFLECTED SUNLIGHT SO

IN THIS ARID DESERT COULD BE EASILY SEEN.

WELL THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S ONE OVER HERE.

THIS PERSON TIED THIS WATER BOTTLE TO THEIR BACK PACK.

THEY CARRY TWO GALLONS OF WATER... THEY CARRY IT

ON THEIR BACK PACK THAT'S ALREADY FULL.

THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT.

NARRATOR: AGENT BALLISTREA'S TASK IS TO TRACK

AND ARREST THE MIGRANTS.

SHE HAS TO BE QUICK.

SHE MAY NOT FIND THEM ALIVE.

AGENT BALLISTREA: WHEN YOU'RE WALKING IN A 115 - 120

DEGREES YOU'RE GONNA BE SWEATING MORE... YOU'RE GONNA

BE YOU KNOW EXHAUSTING ALL OF THE LIQUID INSIDE OF YOU.

AND SO ONCE THIS WATER HAS GONE YOU KNOW THERE AREN'T

ANY NATURAL WATER RESOURCES.

NARRATOR: AGENTS BALLISTREA GETS A CALL.

AGENT BALLISTREA: 10-4 I'LL STAND BY.

NARRATOR: HER COLLEAGUES ARE TRACKING THREE SUSPECTED

ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.

SHE HAS TO GO HEAD THEM OFF.

AGENT BALLISTREA: OK.

NARRATOR: DAZED AND CONFUSED THESE MEN HAVE FAILED.

AGENT BALLISTREA: HERE WE CAME ACROSS THREE MIGRANTS...

OUR MAIN CONCERN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN

GOOD HEALTH AND ESTABLISH THEIR CITIZENSHIP.

OK.

HE ACTUALLY BOUGHT THOSE BLACK WATER BOTTLES IN MEXICO.

HELLO!

NARRATOR: DESPITE PREPARATION...

THEY'VE BEEN BEATEN BY THE DESERT.

NARRATOR: THE BORDER PATROL HAS RESCUED THESE MIGRANTS.

NOW THEY INVESTIGATE.

AGENT BALLISTREA: WE DETERMINE THEIR NATIONALITY...

WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE MEDICALLY STABLE AND AFTER

THAT WE WILL TRANSPORT THEM TO THE CLOSEST

BORDER CONTROL STATION.

FROM THERE WE'LL TAKE THEIR BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION...

WE'LL TAKE THEIR FINGERPRINTS AND DEPENDING ON IF THEY HAVE

CRIMINAL HISTORY THAT WILL DETERMINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN

FOR THEM FROM HERE.

NARRATOR: THESE GUYS WON'T BE GETTING TO ROUTE 86.

AFTER DUE PROCESS... ODDS ARE THEY'LL BE DEPORTED.

THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS FIND THEMSELVES IN DANGER...

NOT JUST FROM THE DESERT BUT THE CARTELS.

AGENT BALLISTREA: OFTEN TIMES; SEVERAL TIMES IN

MEXICO THESE MIGRANTS WILL BE EXTORTED FOR MONEY.

IN ORDER TO PASS THROUGH A CERTAIN TOWN THEY'LL

BE TOLD YOU NEED TO PAY X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.

THEY'RE OFTEN TIMES THREATENED.

AND THEN ONCE THEY GET TO THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY WITH

YOU KNOW THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO THEY'RE

OFTEN EXTORTED AGAIN FOR MORE MONEY.

NARRATOR: AT EACH STEP OF THE WAY EVERYONE SUCKS THEM DRY.

AGENT BALLISTREA: THEY'RE LOOKING AT THESE MIGRANTS AS

A SYMBOL OF MONEY.

YOU KNOW THAT'S ALL THAT THESE MIGRANTS ARE.

THEY'RE NOT A HUMAN BEING TO THEM.

NARRATOR: TIRED AND HUNGRY MANY MIGRANTS

MUST REACH ROUTE 86.

A CARTEL TAXI PICKS UP THESE MIGRANTS AND DRIVES

THEM TO THEIR NEXT DESTINATION...

A STASH HOUSE IN THE PHOENIX SUBURBS.

THEY VANISH INTO TRAFFIC IN MINUTES.

THIS CRUCIAL RIDE IS THE NEXT LINK IN THE CHAIN.

VICENTE: AS LONG AS THEY GOT A BORDER I'M IN BUSINESS.

AS LONG AS THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF CATS THAT

WANT A LITTLE BIT OF FREEDOM... WANT TO CHASE THE WILD LIFE...

DRIVE AROUND IN NICE CARS AND BUY NICE THINGS.

I WANT A PIECE OF THAT TOO.

NARRATOR: VICENTE RUNS A BUSY STASH HOUSE OPERATION

IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA... TWO AND A HALF HOURS DRIVE FROM THE

BORDER ON THE INTERSTATE.

FOR MANY MIGRANTS PHOENIX IS THE GATEWAY TO AMERICA.

VICENTE: I RUN IN 20 CATS A WEEK AT LEAST.

SO YOU FIGURE ABOUT $5,000 PER PERSON.

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK YOU GET PAID JUST LIKE

YOU GUYS DO.

TAKE A SMALL PERCENTAGE... A SMALL CUT.

NARRATOR: VICENTE BELIEVES THE CBP'S EFFORTS

KEEP HIM IN BUSINESS.

VICENTE: YOU GOT THAT BIG ASS WALL.

THEY JUST MAKE THE GATES BIGGER... LONGER... HIGHER...

MORE DANGEROUS AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM...

YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR US.

BECAUSE WE GONNA FIND A WAY AROUND IT

AND WE GONNA MAKE MONEY DOING IT.

NARRATOR: VICENTE PICKS UP GROUPS OF ILLEGAL BORDER

CROSSERS AND DELIVERS THEM TO A STASH HOUSE

IN THE PHOENIX SUBURBS.

VICENTE: JUST BUY A HOUSE... WE GOT REALTORS...

WE GOT CAR DEALERSHIPS... THAT'S HOW WE GET VEHICLES

LIKE THE ONE WE'RE DRIVING IN NOW.

SO WE JUST WORK OUR RESOURCES.

GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING FOR US.

NORMAL PEOPLE.

SO EVERY 30 DAYS WANT A NEW SPOT.

WE DON'T STAY ONE PLACE TOO LONG.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET CAUGHT.

RIGHT I'M GONNA NEED EVERYONE TO GET OUT.

NARRATOR: VICENTE HOLDS THEM IN THE STASH HOUSE UNTIL

THEIR FAMILIES PAY THE SECOND HALF OF THE SMUGGLING FEE.

VICENTE: THIS IS ONE OF THE GOOD SPOTS.

THEY'RE HERE.

THEY'RE SAFE.

YOUNG ONES... VERY DELICATE PARCEL.

YEAH WE GOT GUNS BUT IT'S NOT FOR THEM.

IT'S FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE.

IT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO IS TRYING TO HARM US.

IT'S TO PROTECT US.

PROTECT THEM.

NARRATOR: EVERY HOUR VICENTE HOLDS THE MIGRANTS

IN THE STASH HOUSE COSTS HIM MONEY.

VICENTE: WE GOT MOMMA IN THE BACK COOKING...

SHE HOLDS IT DOWN.

MAKES SURE EVERYBODY IS FED...

MAKES SURE EVERYBODY IS CLEAN.

I MEAN WE GOT YOUNG ONES... OLD ONES...

EVERYBODY LOVES CANDY... SWEETS.

WE GOT PILLOWS... BLANKETS.

WE GOT WHEELCHAIRS IN CASE THEY COME IN HURT.

THEY CAN'T GET MOVING.

FIVE DAYS OF WALKING IN THE DESERT.

SOME OF THEM ARE; THEY GOT BAD FEET...

BAD LEGS... BAD BACKS.

WHEN THEY GET HERE THEY CAN'T MOVE.

WE HELP THEM OUT.

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS.

LET THEIR FAMILY KNOW THAT THEY'RE SAFE.

THEY MADE IT TO THIS SIDE OK.

NARRATOR: VICENTE PAINTS A PRETTY PICTURE.

VICENTE: THEY ENJOY THEMSELVES.

THEY'LL BE OUT TOMORROW.

OUT TO A NEW PLACE... TO A NEW LOCATION...

TO A NEW SPOT... MIGHT BE DESTINATION END.

THAT'S; THAT'S THE PLAN ANYWAYS.

NARRATOR: BUT PLANS GO WRONG.

IF A MIGRANTS U.S. FAMILY CAN'T PAY...

EVERYTHING CHANGES.

IN A HEARTBEAT PEOPLE SMUGGLING SWITCHES TO PEOPLE TRAFFICKING.

VICENTE: WE GOT NUMEROUS BUSINESSES WHERE THESE GUYS

AND THESE LADIES CAN WORK OFF THEIR DEBT.

MEN WE USE THEM FOR LABOR.

THE FEMALES... THEY WORK REAL GOOD IN ENTERTAINMENT.

SO THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS.

NARRATOR: WOMEN ARE FORCED TO WORK AS STRIPPERS...

LAP DANCERS OR PROSTITUTES UNTIL THEY PAY...

THEY'RE PRISONERS.

VICENTE: I AIN'T A BAD PERSON.

MIGHT HAD TO DO SOME BAD THINGS.

BUT THAT'S EVERY PERSON... A PERSON HASN'T

HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE.

MY CHOICE IS TO DO WHAT WE DO.

MAKE A LIVING FOR OUR FAMILY... DO THIS FOR MY KIDS.

AND I AIN'T NEVER GONNA STOP.

FREEDOM AIN'T FREE.

AS LONG AS IT AIN'T FREE WE'RE GONNA GET PAID OFF OF IT.

NARRATOR: NOTHING IS ALLOWED TO INTERRUPT THE

CASH FLOW IN THIS BUSINESS.

IF THE FAMILY CAN'T PAY FOR FREEDOM THE CARTEL...

JUST LIKE A BANK WITH A SUB PRIME MORTGAGE...

MIGHT SELL THE DEBT ON.

FOR WOMEN IT'S EXTRA TOUGH.

MAGDALENA: YOU GOTTA BE SMART... YOU GOTTA BE ABOUT IT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S PROSTITUTION.

WHO'S NOT GONNA PAY FOR SEX?

A MONTH YOU COULD BE MAKING 20 G'S...

YOU COULD BE MAKING A MILLION.

YOU KNOW IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS.

NARRATOR: THE WOMEN ARE MODERN DAY SLAVES...

HELD BY SLAVE MASTERS.

SANTIAGO: COME ON!

NARRATOR: THE ARMED SECURITY GUY IS ON EDGE

AND TURNS ON THE FILM CREW.

SANTIAGO: I REALLY GOT SHIT TO DO, GUYS...

COME ON MAN THIS IS GETTING ME FUCKING IRKED. COME ON.

SANTIAGO: COME ON.

NARRATOR: THE SECURITY GUY IS FRUSTRATED WITH THE INTERVIEW.

IT TAKES TIME AND TIME IS MONEY.

SANTIAGO: IS THAT SHIT RUNNING?

MAGDALENA: IS THAT FUCKING THROUGH?

SANTIAGO: WE RUN A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION HERE.

MAGDALENA: YOU'RE ALRIGHT MAN.

YOU JUST WATCH... WATCH THE GIRLS AND YOU KNOW WE'RE

GONNA TRY TO DO THIS REAL QUICK.

NARRATOR: HE MAKES SURE THAT THE GIRLS ARE

NOT SEEN OR HEARD.

MAGDALENA: I'M REALLY PICKY ON WHO I KEEP.

I'M NOT TRYING TO HAVE THEM ROWDY ASS MOTHERFUCKERS RUN

OR JUMP OUT... TRY TO CAUSE SOME DRAMA DOWN THE STREET.

WE TRY TO KEEP IT AS LOW KEY AS POSSIBLE...

AS QUIET AS POSSIBLE.

NARRATOR: MAGDALENA HAS HER OWN WAY OF KEEPING

THE GIRLS IN LINE.

MAGDALENA: YOU KEEP THEM HIGH... YOU KEEP THEM HAPPY...

THEY'RE COOL THEY'RE GONNA... YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING...

THEY'RE GONNA SHUT UP.

OUR NETWORK YOU KNOW THERE'S HOUSES EVERYWHERE

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

NARRATOR: SEX FOR SALE IS ONE THING BUT MAGDALENA BUYS

AND SELLS WOMEN WHOLESALE.

MAGDALENA: SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S

LIKE HEY I REALLY WANT THEM GIRLS...

I'LL GIVE YOU THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THEY TAKE THEIR GIRLS OUT OF THERE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY SAY HEY I GOT

A SHIPMENT OF GIRLS... THEY NEED A PLACE TO STAY...

YOU WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM?

NARRATOR: WORK CAN MEAN TURNING UP TO 45 TRICKS

A DAY WITH ANY JOHN SENT TO A GIRL'S ROOM.

MAGDALENA: I LIKE PERSONALLY DEALING WITH

GIRLS THAT ARE WILLING.

I DON'T... YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING...

I DON'T DEAL WITH SHIT WHERE THEY LIKE KIDNAPPED THEM GIRLS

AND LIKE FORCING THEM INTO THE; I'M NOT;

I'M NOT WITH THAT PART.

THAT'S YOU KNOW SOMEBODY ELSE.

SANTIAGO: AND YOU DON'T COME HERE AGAINST YOUR

WILL LIKE THE LADY SAYS.

YOU COME HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY...

WE ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS.

NARRATOR: IT'S EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FROM

THE BARREL OF A GUN.

NARRATOR: CARMEN WAS NOW AN ASSET ON THE BALANCE SHEET.

NARRATOR: HER RICH PIMP WELCHED ON THE DEAL.

NARRATOR: TO GET THEIR MONEY THE STASH HOUSE SOLD HER ON.

NARRATOR: SO NOW CARMEN OWES THESE GUYS.

AND MUST WORK.

MAGDALENA: SOMETIMES SHE GIVES ME; DOING REAL SLOPPY.

SHE COULD BRING IN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED A WEEK.

IF SHE'S DOING FANTASTIC AND SHE'S YOU KNOW DOWN TO DO

WHATEVER IT TAKES SHE MIGHT PULL IN A COUPLE OF G'S A WEEK.

NARRATOR: CARMEN'S WORKED HERE THREE YEARS.

SHE MUST HAVE REPAID HER DEBT MANY TIMES OVER.

MAGDALENA: ONCE THEY'RE DONE WITH THEIR DEBT YOU KNOW

THEY'RE FREE TO LEAVE IF THEY LIKE... IF NOT A LOT

OF THEM STAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW NOTHING ELSE.

SANTIAGO: EVERYBODY CAN COME AND WALK AWAY FROM THIS.

IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE NUMBERS HERE.

NARRATOR: HOW BIG THE DEBT IS NOW NO ONE IS SAYING.

NARRATOR: THE BOSS CALLS TIME TO GIVE THE GIRLS

THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK SOME MORE.

NARRATOR: THE DREAM OF A BETTER LIFE CAN

QUICKLY TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE.

WHETHER FOR LACK OF CASH OR LACK OF WATER.

IN THE DESERT OVER 50 MILES NORTH OF THE

BORDER A CELL PHONE CALLS 911.

911 DISPATCHER: HE'S ALONE AND BEEN WITHOUT WATER FOR

TWO HOURS... BEEN IN THE DESERT SIX DAYS AND

THAT THE WATER TOWER IS NORTH OF HIM BUT VERY FAR AWAY.

AND HE'S GOT THREE BARS LEFT ON HIS PHONE BATTERY.

OFFICER: WHAT WE'VE GOT FROM THE CALL IS HE HAD NO MORE

BARS LEFT ON HIS PHONE AND NOW 911 DISPATCH HAS TRIED TO.

911 DISPATCHER: NOT GONNA CHANGE THAT MUCH.

OFFICER: GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH HIM AND THE PHONE IS DEAD.

SO WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO LOCATE THIS GUY.

NARRATOR: IN A JOINT OPERATION WITH CBP...

THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S HELICOPTER DIVERTS

TO MAKE A MERCY DASH.

WITHOUT WATER THE CALLER HAS ONLY A LIMITED TIME TO LIVE.

OFFICER: IF HE'S ACTUALLY CALLING IN 911

THAT MEANS HE IS IN TROUBLE.

NARRATOR: OUT OF WATER IN THE DESERT... A LOST

MIGRANT CALLS 911 ON HIS CELL PHONE.

FOR THE CBP AND THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE

IT'S A RACE TO FIND HIM ALIVE.

PILOT: ADVISE HIM THAT HE NEEDS TO WALK

TO THAT WATER TOWER.

AGENT: I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S WALKING AT THIS POINT.

HE SAYS THAT HE'S ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY FROM THE WATER TOWER.

NARRATOR: THE CELL SIGNAL PIN POINTS HIM AND

THE CHOPPER LOCKS IN.

AGENT: HEY BRIAN... RYAN... IF WE PUT THOSE NUMBERS IN...

IT'S PUTTING US DOWN HERE BY THE CORRALS.

NARRATOR: FROM THE AIR THERE'S NO SIGN OF HIM.

GROUND PATROLS SCOUR THE AREA.

AGENT: THOSE COORDINATES PUT US RIGHT THERE IN

THE AREA OF THAT CORRAL.

I GUESS WE'LL JUST START CHECKING TREES.

NARRATOR: THEY SPOT A BORDER PATROL TRUCK

SPEEDING THROUGH THE DUST.

AGENT: THEY HAVE HIM?

IS THAT WHAT THEY SAID?

HOW DID THEY SEE HIM?

AGENT: I DON'T KNOW.

AGENT: WHERE YOU AT IN RELATION TO THE HELICOPTER.

NARRATOR: HE'S FOUND RESTING IN THE SHADE OF A TREE.

OVER A MILE FROM WHERE THEY EXPECTED.

THE CBP OFFICER BRINGS HIM A GALLON OF WATER

AND SAVES HIS LIFE.

THE STRETCHER WON'T BE NEEDED TODAY.

NARRATOR: AFTER AN INVESTIGATION HE

WILL LIKELY BE DEPORTED.

BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.

OTHERS ARE ALSO HUNTING STRAYS IN THE DESERT.

TWO MORE MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN PICKED UP BY

A NOTORIOUS CARTEL GANG.

ALARM: WARNING YOU HAVE TRIGGERED THE ALARM SYSTEM...

YOUR MOVEMENTS ARE BEING RECORDED.

NARRATOR: THEY ARE ON RED ALERT FOR ATTACKS

FROM RIVAL TRAFFICKERS.

THEIR CARTEL HAS PLENTY OF ENEMIES.

JAIME: MY LIFE IS ON THE LINE I AM GONNA DO BY ALL MEANS

WHAT I HAVE TO PROTECT MYSELF AS WELL AS MY ORGANIZATION.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO FEEL REVENGEFUL BECAUSE WE

GET RID OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY;

THEY'RE NOT COOPERATING.

SO THEY SEEK REVENGE.

AND WE STARTED TO GET OTHER CARTELS AGAINST US.

NARRATOR: THEY WILL DEFEND THEIR MERCHANDISE

AGAINST ALL COMERS.

NARRATOR: THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A STASH HOUSE...

IT'S A BUSY CARTEL TRANSIT FACILITY.

AND TODAY'S CONSIGNMENT OF PEOPLE HAS BEEN IMPORTED...

PAID FOR AND SHIPPED OUT.

BUT TWO MIGRANTS ARE LEFT ON THE SHELF.

NARRATOR: ARTURO WAS TOO POOR TO AFFORD THE CARTEL PACKAGE.

HE WENT SOLO BUT A GANG SOON TOOK WHAT MONEY HE HAD.

NARRATOR: WITHOUT ORGANIZED SUPPORT HE QUICKLY

FACED DYING OF THIRST.

NARRATOR: HE TURNED TO THE HIGHWAY FOR SALVATION

BUT FELL INTO THE HANDS OF A RUTHLESS CARTEL GANG.

NARRATOR: THE CARTEL IS HOLDING ARTURO FOR RANSOM

LOOKING FOR EXTRA MONEY TO ADD TO THEIR

REGULAR PEOPLE SMUGGLING BUSINESS.

JAIME: YOU HAVE FAMILY IN MEXICO AND YOU WANT THEM HERE...

YOU PAY US THE RIGHT AMOUNT AND WE'LL HAVE THEM HERE FOR YOU.

WE'LL BRING THEM HERE... YOU DON'T PAY US WHAT WE NEED...

THEN WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

YOU AIN'T GONNA SEE YOUR FAMILY NO MORE.

NARRATOR: IF YOUR FAMILY CAN'T PAY...

THE CARTEL WILL SELL YOU TO ANYONE WITH THE MONEY.

WE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE TOOK A DIFFERENT

CHILD THAN THEIRS AND LEFT THEIRS HERE SO I MEAN...

WE JUST HERE... YOU BRING US OUR MONEY WE'RE GONNA

GIVE YOU A PERSON... THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO KEEP INVENTORY.

NARRATOR: THEY ARE HERE TO MAKE MONEY AND THEY ARE

DETERMINED TO HOLD ON TO THEIR STOCK.

JAIME: IF SOMEONE TRIES TO ESCAPE THERE'S CONSEQUENCES.

THEY'LL GO WITHOUT EATING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

THEY'LL GET WATER MAYBE.

IF NOT WE GOT A TRAILER BACK THERE THAT THEY'LL STAY IN

AND WE'LL DISCIPLINE THEM... BY ALL MEANS.

STARVING... BEATING.

OR WE HIT THEM WITH BOARDS... IT JUST DEPENDS.

IF YOU'RE GONNA BRING HEAT ON US WE'RE GONNA BRING

HEAT ON YOU.

NARRATOR: THE WRECKED TRAILER IS A PUNISHMENT CELL

FOR BREAKING CARTEL RULES.

NARRATOR: MIGRANTS FIND THEY'VE MADE A DEAL

WITH THE DEVIL.

NARRATOR: FOR THE CARTELS... MIGRANTS ARE ASSETS TO BE

REPACKAGED AND STORED IN STASH HOUSES...

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER GOODS.

STASH HOUSES ARE A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE BORDER STATES.

IN HOUSTON, TEXAS SPECIAL AGENT PIERRE PERRY

OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IS ON HIS WAY TO

CHECK ON A FORMER STASH HOUSE...

HE BUSTED IT JUST SIX MONTHS AGO.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: THIS WAS A SIGHT OF ALIENS BEING HELD

AT A STASH HOUSE... WE'RE JUST GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT

THEY HAVEN'T GONE BACK INTO BUSINESS.

NARRATOR: SMUGGLERS ARE KNOWN TO REUSE BUSTED

STASH HOUSES ONCE THE COAST IS CLEAR.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: RIGHT NOW WE JUST PULLED UP TO THE

HOUSE AND THEY APPEARED TO HAVE CLOSED THE GATE.

THERE'S A NEW PADLOCK ON HERE THAT WE DIDN'T

FIND THAT FIRST DAY.

NARRATOR: PEOPLE SMUGGLERS SQUEEZE THESE ASSETS FOR ALL

THE MONEY THEY CAN GET... GAMBLING THAT THE U.S.

FAMILY WON'T CALL FOR HELP BUT SOMETIMES THEY GET IT WRONG.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: A LADY AND HER CHILD HAD PAID

APPROXIMATELY $10,000 TO BE TRANSPORTED INTO THE U.S.

UPON GETTING HERE TO HOUSTON AND AFTER PAYING THAT MONEY...

THESE SMUGGLERS THEN TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAD TO PAY AN

ADDITIONAL $13,000 AND IF THEY DIDN'T PAY THAT $13,000

THEN THEY WOULDN'T SEE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AGAIN.

NARRATOR: IN DESPERATION... HER RELATIVES DID CALL THE COPS.

MOST STASH HOUSES HOLD ABOUT TEN PEOPLE BUT THE STASH

HOUSE AGENT PERRY BUSTED WAS ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT SCALE.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: THERE WAS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE

COULDN'T GET AN ACCURATE COUNT.

AS MORE PEOPLE BEGAN TO COME OUT WE SAW THAT IT WAS A

FINAL COUNT OF 115... OF WHICH WERE ABOUT 20 KIDS.

THIS IS BY FAR THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE

I'VE EVER SEEN HELD.

NARRATOR: THE PEOPLE WERE IN A PITIFUL CONDITION.

INSIDE THE HOUSE WAS A NIGHTMARE.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: AS I COME BACK HERE IT DOES BRING

BACK SOME OF THE MEMORIES OF THAT DAY.

NARRATOR: THIS NEVER BEFORE AIRED FOOTAGE SHOT BY

ICE AGENTS MOMENTS AFTER THE RAID LEFT THEM SHOCKED.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: WHEN YOU GOT INTO THE HOUSE...

BEING THAT THE BATHROOM DID NOT WORK... THE SMELL OF FECES...

URINE... SWEAT... THE BODY ODOR OF ALIENS WHO HAD BEEN

WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT AND HERE WITHOUT THE ABILITY

TO TAKE SHOWERS AND CLEAN UP...

JUST WAS AN OVERWHELMING STENCH.

IT MAKES YOU SICK TO YOUR STOMACH.

NARRATOR: THE CAPTORS HAD RIFLES...

HANDGUNS AND TAZERS TO SUBDUE THE MIGRANTS.

THEY BEAT THEM TOO.

NARRATOR: WITH PLYWOOD NAILED OVER THE WINDOWS

IT'S A PRISON.

THE NEIGHBORS DIDN'T SEE A THING.

NARRATOR: PHONING RELATIVES IS NORMALLY PART OF THE

RELOCATION PACKAGE... HERE YOU GOT MORE ABUSE.

NARRATOR: MOST OF THE MIGRANTS WERE DEPORTED.

SOME DID REMAIN IN THE U.S. AS MATERIAL WITNESSES.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE AND JOY IN OUR

ABILITY TO RESCUE THESE PEOPLE AND TO SAVE THEM FROM

THESE SITUATIONS.

NARRATOR: THE FIVE PERPETRATORS WERE CAUGHT...

TRIED AND FOUND GUILTY OF FIRE ARMS OFFENSES AND

CONSPIRING TO HARBOR AND TRANSPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS.

THEY GOT FROM 9 TO 11 YEARS IN JAIL.

SPECIAL AGENT PERRY: IT APPEARS TO BE VACANT RIGHT

NOW OR AT LEAST SECURE.

WE'LL PROBABLY JUST PUT IT BACK ON OUR ROTATION TO COME

BACK AROUND IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT

ANYBODY HAS COME BACK IN THERE AND REOCCUPIED IT OR IF

THEY'RE BACK TO RUNNING THIS;

RUNNING THEIR ORGANIZATION AGAIN.

NARRATOR: AT THE CARTEL STASH HOUSE WHERE THE TWO

MIGRANTS ARE BEING HELD... ARTURO IS WAITING FOR HIS

UNCLE TO COME UP WITH THE CASH.

HE'S IN A BAD PLACE.

NARRATOR: ONCE THE SMUGGLERS ASSET...

ARTURO NOW RISKS BECOMING OVER STOCK.

NARRATOR: DAVID DOUBTS WHETHER BOTH OF THEM CAN PAY.

NARRATOR: THE CARTEL MEMBERS TAKE THEM AWAY.

.

NARRATOR: WHOEVER COMES UP WITH THE CASH WILL BE RELEASED.

AND IF ARTURO'S UNCLE DOESN'T PAY UP