Prostitution and Migrant Smuggling Networks Operating between Central America, Mexico, and the United States

• Published in: Latin American perspectives Vol. 44; no. 6; pp. 31 - 49
• Main Author: Palacios, Simón Pedro Izcara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications, Inc 01.11.2017; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Coercion; Employment; Entertainment industry; Migrants; Networks; Noncitizens; Prices; Prostitution; Recruitment; Smuggling; Specialization; Violence; Women; Central America; United States > US; Mexico; Migrant smuggling; Prostitution; Central America; Mexico; United States; Trafficking
• ISSN: 0094-582X; 1552-678X
• DOI: 10.1177/0094582X17699910

During the past five years, a process of specialization has taken place in migrant smuggling networks that has led to the strengthening of those focused on transporting women. The reasons are that migrant women have been less affected than men by the violence in Mexico and that the adult entertainment industry pays the highest prices for irregular migrants. In-depth interviews with procurers, smugglers, and women from Central America describe the operation of the networks for the smuggling of women for prostitution operating between Central America, Mexico, and the United States and indicate that the recruitment of women is usually not coercive and that the employment of minors is more frequent in the United States than in Mexico. En los últimos cinco años se ha producido un proceso de especialización de las redes de tráfico de migrantes que ha conducido a un fortalecimiento de aquellas que transportan mujeres. Esto se debe a dos motivos: Las mujeres migrantes se han visto menos afectadas que los hombres por la violencia en México, y la industria del entretenimiento adulto es la que más paga por los migrantes irregulares. Entrevistas en profundidad con proxenetas, traficantes de mujeres y mujeres de Centroamérica describen el funcionamiento de las redes de tráfico de mujeres empleadas en el sector de la prostitución que operan entre Centroamérica, México y Estados Unidos y concluyen que el reclutamiento de mujeres no se produce de modo coercitivo y el empleo de menores es mayor en Estados Unidos que en México.