As Brazilians Arrive at the US Border, a Suspected Smuggler Profits
2021-10-16
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1Record numbers of Brazilians have been arrested at the United States' southern border this year.
2Police believe the investigation into one man has led them to one of the smuggling operations that moves migrants north.
3In early June, Brazilian federal police arrested Chelbe Moraes.
4He is a Brazilian businessman who is suspected of illegally taking his daughter to Paraguay after a dispute with her mother.
5During the investigation into the charges, police listened to the phone calls of Moraes' business partners.
6The officers began to suspect Moraes was an experienced people smuggler, or "coyote."
7On June 25, a police report was sent to a federal judge and seen by Reuters.
8It asked that several criminal charges be filed against Moraes, including illegally moving a child, human smuggling and agreeing to perform an illegal act.
9Police accuse him of charging Brazilians around $20,000 each to illegally enter the United States via Mexico without legal visas.
10Court documents say Moraes built an international network that includes corrupt police officers and officials, and U.S.-based family members.
11Moraes said he is innocent.
12He told Reuters he runs a lawful agency that informs people on how to get asylum in the United States.
13He said he has helped up to 200 people over 20 years.
14He charges those who meet U.S. rules on asylum up to $18,086 to help them migrate.
15Moraes said his information is costly, "... because I know American laws."
16U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, say during the first 11 months of the 2021 financial year, 46,280 Brazilians were arrested by officials at the southern U.S. border, making them sixth among nationalities arrested at the border in 2021.
17More than 550,000 Mexicans have been arrested.
18It is part of a wave of Latin American migrants leaving countries whose economies have been damaged by COVID-19.
19Southern border arrests have jumped to their highest levels in 20 years.
20As of now, Moraes remains free in Brazil after saying he was not guilty of illegally taking his child to Paraguay.
21No charges have been placed in connection to a possible smuggling operation.
22This permits police to continue their investigation of Moraes.
23Two people who knew of his suspected actions, a former customer and a former partner, talked with Reuters.
24They said Moraes tells his customers to act like tourists when they arrive in Mexico.
25They also said Moraes sometimes helps his customers by paying Mexican immigration officials.
26The two people said Moraes transports the Brazilians north.
27They either jump the border with the help of paid Mexican coyotes, or they ask for asylum by using false papers and stories Moraes has prepared.
28People who can prove they face mistreatment at home because of their race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinions may meet the requirements for U.S. asylum.
29Those who enter the U.S. may remain for years in the states while their cases are processed because of the number of cases courts have.
30Moraes said those who claim he ran a smuggling operation were "induced" to do so by police or did not like him due to his success.
31But he recognized he has gained from Brazil's problems.
32He said, "The worse the government here gets, the better for me."
33I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Record numbers of Brazilians have been arrested at the United States' southern border this year. Police believe the investigation into one man has led them to one of the smuggling operations that moves migrants north. 2In early June, Brazilian federal police arrested Chelbe Moraes. He is a Brazilian businessman who is suspected of illegally taking his daughter to Paraguay after a dispute with her mother. 3During the investigation into the charges, police listened to the phone calls of Moraes' business partners. The officers began to suspect Moraes was an experienced people smuggler, or "coyote." 4On June 25, a police report was sent to a federal judge and seen by Reuters. It asked that several criminal charges be filed against Moraes, including illegally moving a child, human smuggling and agreeing to perform an illegal act. 5Police accuse him of charging Brazilians around $20,000 each to illegally enter the United States via Mexico without legal visas. Court documents say Moraes built an international network that includes corrupt police officers and officials, and U.S.-based family members. 6Moraes said he is innocent. He told Reuters he runs a lawful agency that informs people on how to get asylum in the United States. He said he has helped up to 200 people over 20 years. He charges those who meet U.S. rules on asylum up to $18,086 to help them migrate. 7Moraes said his information is costly, "... because I know American laws." 8Migrant wave 9U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, say during the first 11 months of the 2021 financial year, 46,280 Brazilians were arrested by officials at the southern U.S. border, making them sixth among nationalities arrested at the border in 2021. More than 550,000 Mexicans have been arrested. 10It is part of a wave of Latin American migrants leaving countries whose economies have been damaged by COVID-19. Southern border arrests have jumped to their highest levels in 20 years. 11As of now, Moraes remains free in Brazil after saying he was not guilty of illegally taking his child to Paraguay. No charges have been placed in connection to a possible smuggling operation. This permits police to continue their investigation of Moraes. 12Two people who knew of his suspected actions, a former customer and a former partner, talked with Reuters. They said Moraes tells his customers to act like tourists when they arrive in Mexico. They also said Moraes sometimes helps his customers by paying Mexican immigration officials. 13Suspected actions 14The two people said Moraes transports the Brazilians north. They either jump the border with the help of paid Mexican coyotes, or they ask for asylum by using false papers and stories Moraes has prepared. 15People who can prove they face mistreatment at home because of their race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinions may meet the requirements for U.S. asylum. Those who enter the U.S. may remain for years in the states while their cases are processed because of the number of cases courts have. 16Moraes said those who claim he ran a smuggling operation were "induced" to do so by police or did not like him due to his success. 17But he recognized he has gained from Brazil's problems. 18He said, "The worse the government here gets, the better for me." 19I'm Gregory Stachel. 20Gabriel Stargardter reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 21_____________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23smuggle - v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly 24network - n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other 25customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business 26tourist - n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure 27induce - v. to cause (someone or something) to do something