The Coyote and the Bank: Human-Smuggling Costing Billions on Financial Institutions - Essay Sample

Introduction

The magazine "The coyote and the Bank" written by Michael Smith and Esmee Deprez depicts human-smuggling gangs within the united states- Mexico border that cost billions of cash on financial institutions. The magazine was published in February 2015. According to the article, human smuggling is not just a one thing idea within these borders but a constantly repeated activity. Financial institutions within and around the United States are the biggest aid to these trafficking as they serve the purpose transaction. Since all legal procedures are undertaken within the banks, the smuggling of humans within the borders becomes a much easier thing; thus banks play a critical role in this big business (Smith and Deprez, 73).

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According to United States Homeland Security, if there were no banks, such as big operation (human- smuggling) cannot be operational (72). Besides, it is evident that even Diaz an evangelical Christian hires a group of smugglers across the United States border to Arizona in which he pays through Well Fargo and Co which are among the biggest banks in the United States (73). Two men who were held captive by smugglers and squeezed among other individuals who were being smuggled were driven to Atlanta until the $5200 reflected in their Well Fargo bank account. Banks are accountable to these smuggling due to their fallen responsibility to react to suspicious cash deposits and withdrawal - "the banks and regulators are not doing a very good job in policing their accounts" (73). The Bank Secrecy Act allows the banks to monitor and report suspicious activities in the transaction to the financial crime network (73). Accordingly, they must appoint compliance officers who must develop policies stopping or detecting malicious activities. Although malicious activities being attended by allowing deposit of cash from individuals named in the account, Well Fargo did not take such measures. Ultimately, banks are playing a significant role in human smuggling within the United States although banks have not been targeted by neither the congress, Whitehouse nor any political agenda. Diaz says "I went to the bank and deposited the cash" (76). He said that after the gang demanded cash for the release of his brother. The only way he could make these possible is through the bank in which he did the payment through western union.

My reaction to the article is that financial institutions are directly linked with human smuggling. The paper relates the topic coyote and the banks. Coyote is the gangs conducting the smuggling while the banks link the payments. Homeland security reveals that human trafficking is a big business that can only be aided by banks. Besides, Diaz says depositing money in their account was the only way he could save his brother (76). These instances depict the paper "The Coyote and the Bank" - how banks are effective in promoting human smuggling. Human trafficking is a critical issue that is associated with other crimes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and even slavery. Individuals being smuggled are exploited by being forced to transact a certain amount before being delivered to their location. It is a common reality that failure to meet their demand has transpired to individuals being captives and sometimes even killed. For instance, Perez a catholic priest is honoring the death of immigrant captives.

The government is playing a role in seeing human smuggling illness continuous - it has not been quite addressed in the United States. However, financial institutions especially the Well Fargo and Western union are among the most cited institutions associated with these transactions. Throughout the article, it is clear that although strategies have been set to do away with smuggling, the government has failed to recognize the direct involvement of these financial institutions in promoting the problem.

I find these articles more educative especially how legally recognized institutions aids in promoting illegal activities within the United States and its environs. For instance, human smuggling is not a major concern to compliance officers since they are directed towards other crimes (78). Although much has been said on how financial institutions have been aiding the success of smuggling, the government is at the forefront of promoting the problem; nothing has been said either by the congress, Whitehouse or political agenda targeting these financial institutions. Thus, it is clear that however much the financial institutions are blamed, the government also has failed too.

Human smuggling although is much cheaper for undocumented individuals. However, it is more risk as an individual being conveyed can be asked to pay more - "I went to the bank and deposited the money after they demanded to bring my brother". Their (smith and Depez) idea on these is true, I have heard so many people die, raped, and sometimes even arrested as they try to cross over the borders without proper documentation in the hands of smugglers. The work by Smith and Deprez clearly outlines how the bank is aiding the smuggling process - "banks are crucial in making 4100 miles journey (72). Thus, complete compliance in the financial system can be able to regulate smuggling within these borders.

The work by Smith and Depez is worthy to be recommended to undocumented individuals living or seeking to live in the United States as they will be able to learn the associated consequence. Additionally, financial institutions and the government of the United States should learn from this work to be able to address the problem effectively.