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INS HOPES 60 CONVICTIONS PUT AN END TO LARGE IMMIGRANT SMUGGLING RING
The INS believes it has dealt a major blow to one of the largest and most organized immigrant smuggling rings in Mexico.  While the brothers that lead the Peralta ring have not been apprehended, officials believe that the convictions of 60 other people involved with the group will significantly reduce the group’s activities. 

However, some observers think that the group is so well established that it will have no problems recruiting new members and carrying on its smuggling activities as before.  The Peralta ring was quite organized, with a fleet of vehicles and a variety of rented houses in which immigrants were housed after arriving in the US.  When the smuggling fee was paid, they would be released. 

The ring had been active since the 1980s, but really gained momentum after the implementation of Operation Gatekeeper six years ago.  This program is designed to keep migrants from crossing in the urban San Diego area.  Combined with other operations designed to keep migrants from crossing in other urban border areas, the effect has been to push migrants into crossing in remote areas where they often seek the assistance of smugglers to help. 
 
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