In short, the human trade is in many ways like any other legitimate international trade, except that it is illegal. The largest influx of humans trafficked to the U.S. are coming from the less developed regions of the world. Panama is a also a major transit point for migrants coming from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, India and the People's Republic of China. The major points of entry into the United States are located in southern and central Texas, Southern California, Tucson, Arizona, and areas of New Mexico. While the Southwest border is often used as the main portal into the United States, traffickers are increasingly moving migrants into the U.S. through New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Traffickers share a common goal of circumventing national regulations and evading law enforcement.
Diplomatic security agents have identified dance and modeling agencies in the U.S. that serve as fronts for trafficking operations for larger Russian crime syndicates. Larger operations have developed elaborate networks that include document venders, travel agencies, guides, transportation, and local area border smugglers. There is a relatively high degree of collusion with officials in the U.S. that is facilitating these clandestine operations. INS reports that traffickers have reportedly corrupted senior-level officials as well as officials in key positions, such as immigration officials at airports, consular workers in U.S. embassies abroad, members of law enforcement, and officers at border checkpoints. Many migrants fall victim to inhumane treatment and conditions, suffering immensely at the hands of their traffickers.