They're called "coyotes" or migrant traffickers who sneak thousands of Hispanics across the 2,000-mile-long U.S. border each year. The alien smugglers are often ruthless and elusive, recognized for being chingones, Spanish slang for "hard core." They're a Hispanic immigrant's hero and a U.S. border agent's nightmare.
Where previously a majority of migrants crossed alone, today 90% rely on coyotes or polleros. The service, which can cost $2,000 to $4,000 a piece, carries no guarantees. Over 1.5 million Mexicans are deported from the U.S. every year, yet for many, it's worth the risk. Immigrants stand to earn four to five times more in the U.S. than in their native country, where jobs are scarce.