Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is sounding the alarm on what he describes as the persistent but futile efforts of cartel-linked organizers to mobilize migrant caravans toward the U.S. border, despite current enforcement policies that make successful entry virtually impossible.
In a series of public statements, Landau — who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2019 to 2021 — emphasized that the criminal networks behind these movements remain active and undeterred by current border security measures.
“The criminals and caravan organizers have not vanished or given up,” Landau stated. “Even now, they continue to organize caravans that have ZERO CHANCE of entering our country.”
Cartel-Organized Operations on Social Media
Landau pushed back against the notion that migrant caravans represent spontaneous movements of desperate people seeking better lives. According to the deputy secretary, these convoys are far from organic.
“Some people mistakenly believe that human ‘caravans’ seeking to enter our country illegally are an organic phenomenon. They are assuredly not,” he wrote. “They are meticulously organized on social media, and — under the prior Administration — became a massive and lucrative business, primarily for criminal enterprises.”
The deputy secretary painted a grim picture of the migrants themselves, describing them as victims of exploitation. “The migrants themselves are just the pawns, often subject to inhuman and degrading treatment along the way,” Landau added.
Latest Caravan Stalled in Southern Mexico
The most recent example illustrating Landau’s point is the caravan known as “Fe y Esperanza #2” (Faith and Hope #2), which has made minimal progress since departing from Tapachula, Chiapas on October 20.
According to reporting from La Jornada, a Mexico City-based Spanish-language daily newspaper, the caravan has managed to cover fewer than 90 miles over eight days of travel. The group is currently attempting to reach Pijijiapan, Chiapas, but has been significantly hampered by adverse weather conditions along the southern coastal highway.
The journey has been marked by internal strife as well, with at least four caravan members reportedly injured in fights that have erupted within the group during the trek.
Multi-Nation Coordination Strategy
Landau credited enhanced cooperation between U.S. immigration officials and Central American governments for the dramatic slowdown in caravan progress. He specifically praised authorities in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico for their role in intercepting and dispersing migrant groups before they can approach the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Under the leadership of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, all of this stopped immediately and we now have THE MOST SECURE BORDER IN HISTORY,” Landau wrote, highlighting the administration’s coordination efforts with regional partners.
“An important part of our strategy is to work closely with authorities in other countries to stop caravans before they even approach our border,” he explained. “In this regard, we commend the Guatemalan, Honduran, and Mexican governments for their recent decisive and effective actions.”
The strategy involves establishing checkpoints throughout the region and maintaining close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. “By setting up checkpoints and working closely with @DHSgov, these authorities halted mass illegal travel in its tracks,” Landau noted. “Enforcing border security at the source delivers results.”
Economic Motivations Behind Migration
While Landau focused on the criminal organizers, he also acknowledged the economic desperation driving many individual migrants to join these caravans. Many participants are seeking employment opportunities in the United States, fleeing home economies hampered by corruption, insufficient U.S. investment, and demographic drain as younger workers emigrate.
The deputy secretary’s comments come amid ongoing debate about the economic impacts of immigration policy. Since major immigration policy shifts in 1965 and 1990, the federal government’s approach to migration has created what some describe as a source of inexpensive labor that has benefited certain economic sectors — including real estate, restaurants, construction, eldercare, meatpacking, hospitality, and entertainment.
The policy has also been characterized as advantageous to urban Democratic political organizations, according to Landau’s broader commentary on migration policy.
Claimed Costs of Previous Policies
Landau pointed to what he described as significant negative consequences of previous immigration policies for American workers and families. These alleged impacts include suppressed wages, reduced workplace investment, and increased housing costs — effects he attributed to what he termed “Extraction Migration” policies.
The current administration has implemented measures beyond just southern border enforcement, according to the deputy secretary. Trump and his team have not only blocked migrant flows through the southern border but have also significantly curtailed the number of legalized migrants entering through airports.
The effectiveness of these coordinated enforcement efforts, Landau suggested, is evidenced by the continued failure of caravans like “Fe y Esperanza #2” to make meaningful progress toward their stated destination — even as the criminal organizations behind them persist in their organizing efforts on social media platforms.
Despite the harsh conditions, internal conflicts, and minimal forward movement, Landau warned that the infrastructure supporting these migration attempts remains intact and ready to exploit any relaxation in border security measures. His message appeared aimed at emphasizing that maintaining current enforcement levels requires sustained effort and international cooperation to counter what he characterized as sophisticated criminal enterprises.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/10/31/deputy-secretary-of-state-doomed-migrant-caravans-show-cartels-hidden-power/