The summary discusses Jim Chilton, a rancher whose remote property south of Arivaca, Arizona sits at the US-Mexico border and is frequently crossed by cartel smugglers moving migrants and drugs.
Chilton has dealt with this illicit activity for decades, which he described to reporters in 2018 as being largely controlled by the Sinaloa cartel.
“Most of our ranch is occupied by the Sinaloa Cartel,” Chilton said.
The cartel operatives surveil the area for Border Patrol and routinely traffic people through Chilton’s ranch.
This problem has worsened in recent years.
Migrant crossings in the area have spiked, with apprehensions up 120% in February compared to last year.
Since October, over 284,000 migrants have entered near Chilton’s ranch, a 173% increase.
The increase in crossings has stretched Border Patrol resources thin, making it difficult for them to actively patrol more remote areas like Chilton’s ranch.
