The success of the Oasis Program in Arizona, which seeks to stop the trafficking of undocumented people on both sides of the border, has led to its recent implementation in Texas.

Consul Jorge Luis Hidalgo of the Mexican Consulate in Yuma indicates that he recently traveled to Texas to witness the bi-national Oasis Program as it went into operation.

He says that the program was implemented on August 17, 2005, in California, New Mexico, and Arizona, with the goal of prosecuting those who traffic undocumented immigrants in the United States and Mexico.

Hidalgo explained that previously when the United States could not establish charges against a trafficker, the suspect would be set free. But through the Oasis Program, the person can be prosecuted in Mexico for violating the General Population law (that governs most immigration and emigration matters in Mexico).

Although the numbers achieved up until now are small, the program has been a success within its goal to prosecute human traffickers in one of the two countries.

The Oasis Program is yet another joint effort between Mexico and the United States to protect the integrity of the borders and the safety of migrants, and it operates through the coordination of local police and judicial authorities.

So far only 21 cases have been tried, because many immigrants are afraid of testifying against the coyotes [human smugglers], and often immigrants do not trust the authorities in a country with which they are unfamiliar.

The consulate’s role, says Hidalgo, is to facilitate the relationship between the Border Patrol and the Mexican Federal Public Ministry.

“In the consulate,” Hidalgo said, “there is only one person dedicated to the program. In absolute numbers and given the magnitude of the issue in the region, the numbers seem low, but given the resources invested, the results are very positive.”