Turkish migrants looking for a way into the U.S. have turned to advertisements posted by smugglers on social media, boasting about the ease of entry through California.
Turkish migrants are entering the U.S. through the southern border in unprecedented numbers, with smugglers leveraging social media to highlight the ease of crossing into California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows a significant rise in Turkish migrant encounters, from just over 1,400 in 2021 to 15,445 in 2022, and 15,542 in 2023. This year, there have already been 7,486 encounters with Turkish migrants at the southern border.
In 2023, the San Diego sector became the primary entry point for these migrants, accounting for 9,154, or 41%, of the total 15,542 Turkish migrants entering the U.S. illegally. This surge has made the San Diego sector the busiest in the country for illegal entries by Turkish migrants. The trend highlights ongoing challenges at the southern border and the growing role of social media in facilitating illegal migration.
