Molly Peters

Photographer

Social Media Migrant Smuggling - Bloomberg Businessweek

License

Clients: Bloomberg Businessweek, The Intercept, The Wall Street Journal, High Country News, HuffPost

School: Bard College Hartford Art School

A border patrol vehicle is seen...to the United States illegally.

A border patrol vehicle is seen in the side mirror of a car driving along Rt. 92 in Hereford, AZ. Rt. 92 is a common pickup point for migrants who’ve crossed into the United States illegally.

A border patrol vehicle passes ...intercepted by law enforcement.

A border patrol vehicle passes by on Rt. 92 in Hereford, AZ, along a stretch of road where migrants frequently are intercepted by law enforcement.

A sign directs vehicles heading for Mexico in Douglas, AZ.

Superior Court in Cochise County. Bisbee, AZ.

Border patrol agents on ATVs pa...-Mexican border in Douglas, AZ.

Border patrol agents on ATVs patrol the area along the US-Mexican border in Douglas, AZ.

Mural in progress at the American Legion Post 11 in Douglas, AZ.

The US border wall separates Do..., AZ from Agua Prieta, Mexico.

The US border wall separates Douglas, AZ from Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Buildings in the historic secti..., AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

Buildings in the historic section of Douglas, AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

Looking west from the San Pedro...tercepted by US border patrol.

Looking west from the San Pedro River in Hereford, AZ, along Rt. 92, which is a stretch of road where migrants frequently are intercepted by US border patrol.

A shop window in the historic s..., AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

A shop window in the historic section of Douglas, AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

The historic section of Douglas...the US-Mexico border.

The historic section of Douglas, AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

The Three Points Border Patrol ...ohono O’odham Nation.

The Three Points Border Patrol Checkpoint along West Ajo Highway checks cars traveling between Tucson, AZ, and the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Tire tracks mark the dirt along...roaching Douglas, AZ.

Tire tracks mark the dirt along the side of Rt. 80 near Paul Spurs Road approaching Douglas, AZ.

A statue of the Virgin Mary sit...the US-Mexico border.

A statue of the Virgin Mary sits in a shop window in the historic section of Douglas, AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

The bright lights of Cochise Co...ts traveling on foot at night.

The bright lights of Cochise College's Douglas Campus are used as a guiding point by migrants traveling on foot at night.

Headlights follow a car near Bi...rea along the US-Mexico border.

Headlights follow a car near Bisbee, AZ, an area along the US-Mexico border.

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Thumbnail of A border patrol vehicle is seen _nto the United States illegally.

Thumbnail of A border patrol vehicle passes b_ intercepted by law enforcement.

Thumbnail of A sign directs vehicles heading for Mexico in Douglas, AZ.

Thumbnail of Superior Court in Cochise County. Bisbee, AZ.

Thumbnail of Border patrol agents on ATVs pat_S-Mexican border in Douglas, AZ.

Thumbnail of Mural in progress at the American Legion Post 11 in Douglas, AZ.

Thumbnail of The US border wall separates Dou_s, AZ from Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Thumbnail of Buildings in the historic sectio_s, AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

Thumbnail of Looking west from the San Pedro _ntercepted by US border patrol.

Thumbnail of A shop window in the historic se_s, AZ, on the US-Mexico border.

Thumbnail of The historic section of Douglas,_ the US-Mexico border.

Thumbnail of The Three Points Border Patrol C_Tohono O’odham Nation.

Thumbnail of Tire tracks mark the dirt along _proaching Douglas, AZ.

Thumbnail of A statue of the Virgin Mary sits_ the US-Mexico border.

Thumbnail of The bright lights of Cochise Col_nts traveling on foot at night.

Thumbnail of Headlights follow a car near Bis_area along the US-Mexico border.

Public Project

Social Media Migrant Smuggling - Bloomberg Businessweek

Copyright Molly Peters 2025

Date of Work Nov 2023 - Nov 2023

Updated Nov 2023

Location Arizona

Topics Media, News

Human smugglers are using social media, particularly Snapchat, to recruit drivers to smuggle migrants deeper into the country after they've crossed the US-Mexico border illegally. Read the full story, by Julia Love, on Bloomberg Businessweek via the link below.

Human Smugglers Exploit Social Media Oversharing to Recruit Coyotes
Cartel-backed networks are using Snapchat, TikTok and other apps to entice drivers into transporting migrants.
Bloomberg.com

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Molly Peters

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