1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov December 20, 2021Migrant Smuggling: Background and Selected IssuesMigrant smuggling, also known as human smuggling, refers to the voluntary transportation of an individual across international borders, in violation of one or more countries laws. Smugglers facilitate m
2、igrant travel, typically in exchange for payment, sometimes using fraudulent identity documents and covert transit. While smuggled migrants agree to be smuggleda condition that distinguishes the practice from human traffickingthey may be vulnerable to abuse by their smuggler or later become a traffi
3、cking victim. Various United Nations (U.N.) sources cite estimates that globally, migrant smuggling totals $7-$10 billion a year or more, but the full extent of the problem is not known. Through oversight hearings and proposed legislation, Congress has sought more information on migrant smuggling an
4、d on ways to deter and punish smugglers. Background and Definitions In recent years, situations of migrants and other vulnerable groups on the move has elevated congressional concerns about transnational crime, humanitarian protection, human rights, and border security (see Figure 1). The movement o