CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A potential new state bill could help deter human smugglers from traveling through the South Texas border.
State Representative J.M. Lozano is sponsoring House Bill 903 which would increase the punishment for human smugglers in Texas.
Human smuggling is an ongoing issue that continues to happen across the U.S. Mexico border.
According to Kleberg County officials, human trafficking often starts with human smuggling where people pay to come across for jobs and better opportunities. Later on, the victims could end up being victims of trafficking in forced labor or the sex trade. When victims are smuggled they're taken across large areas of land along the Texas border in harsh environments including ranches where there is no water, and temperatures that can be extremely hot or bitterly cold.
In 2012 Brooks County found 129 bodies. Kleberg County has also rescued victims left for dead.
"We're supposed to protect the people in our state and these immigrants coming across are being taken advantage of. They're the people in most need of help, but they're being taken advantage of by the transnational criminal organizations," District Attorney John Hubert said.
Although Senate Bill 903 would not end smuggling, it would increase the punishment from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.