Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Money Flow Linked to Human Smuggling Plunges in Trump Crackdown
The US government watches banks and money-transfer companies for money that might be used to help people sneak into the country.
A new report from the US Treasury says suspicious payments like these dropped by more than half in 2025.
This happened because the government made it much harder for people to enter the US without permission.
It limited the asylum system, rolled back protections for immigrants in court, and sped up deportations.
Even so, from 2023 to 2025, more than $4.9 billion in suspected smuggling money was sent or tried to be sent.
Most of the suspicious reports came from money-transfer businesses, not big banks.
But the crackdown also pushed smugglers to take bigger risks.
In May, six migrants were found dead inside a very hot train car near Laredo, Texas.
Officials are also watching for smuggling by boat because land crossings have become harder.
Suspicious transfers tied to human smuggling fell by over 60% in 2025, dropping to 11,018, according to a US Treasury report.
Attempted or completed smuggling-linked transfers reached over $4.9 billion from 2023 to 2025, per the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Official migrant encounters on the US southern border fell by roughly 90% amid new restrictions.
Money-transfer firms accounted for 97% of the suspicious transfers, which averaged $7,961 per filing.
Smugglers and migrants are taking bigger risks: in May, six migrants were found dead inside a train car near Laredo, Texas.
- Who
- The US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which issued the report, and the Trump administration, which implemented the enforcement crackdown.
- What
- Reports of suspicious human-smuggling-related money transfers fell by over 60% in 2025, dropping to 11,018.
- When
- 2025, the first year of Trump's second administration; the Treasury report was released on Thursday.
- Where
- United States and Latin America, with smuggling-linked funds traced from US cities including Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles, and activity near the US southern border.
- Why
- New US restrictions deterred migration by limiting asylum access, rolling back protections for immigrants in court proceedings and speeding up deportations.
Crackdown supporters
Critics and humanitarian concerns
Border enforcement impact
Crackdown supporters
New restrictions deterred migration, cutting official border encounters by roughly 90% and smuggling-related money flow by over 60%.
Critics and humanitarian concerns
The crackdown pushed smugglers and migrants to take bigger risks, as shown by six migrants found dead inside a train car near Laredo, Texas.
Watching the money
Crackdown supporters
Banks and money-transfer firms successfully flagged over $4.9 billion in suspected smuggling funds from 2023 to 2025.
Critics and humanitarian concerns
Smuggling transfers continued despite the crackdown, and seaborne smuggling attempts have emerged as land crossings became harder.
- Suspicious transfers in 2025
- 11,018
- Decline in flagged transfers
- Over 60%
- Suspected smuggling funds (2023-2025)
- Over $4.9 billion
- Drop in southern border encounters
- Roughly 90%
- Share filed by money-transfer firms
- 97%
- Average transfer per filing
- $7,961
- Top source cities
- Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles
- Report issuer
- US Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)