Michael Knowles Warns of High Risks of Kidnapping and Exploitation for Children Crossing the Border Illegally

Top Points

• Knowles warned that children who cross the border illegally face extreme risks of kidnapping and exploitation: He said cartel-controlled routes expose minors to violent criminal groups who routinely abuse, traffic or extort them.

• Knowles cited a 2006 Amnesty International report documenting widespread sexual assault against migrant girls: He noted that the report found 60 to 80 percent of girls and women who cross illegally are raped or sexually assaulted during the journey through Mexico.

• Knowles argued that ignoring these dangers only empowers traffickers: He said policymakers must acknowledge the human cost of illegal crossings and enforce measures that protect children from exploitation by criminal networks.

Full Report:

On a recent episode of The Michael Knowles Show, host Michael Knowles discussed what he described as the severe and often unspoken dangers faced by children who enter the United States illegally. Knowles argued that minors traveling through cartel-controlled routes or crossing the border without protection are among the most vulnerable populations in the Western Hemisphere, facing high risks of kidnapping, trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Knowles Says Illegal Border Crossings Expose Children to Criminal Predators

Knowles told his audience that children who cross the border illegally are at an especially elevated risk of being targeted by smugglers, traffickers and violent criminal groups. He said that the journey north through Mexico is largely controlled by cartels that profit from moving migrants and often exploit, abuse or disappear those who cannot pay or who resist coercion.

He emphasized that these dangers disproportionately affect minors, who have far fewer ways to protect themselves and are often dependent on guides or traffickers who may ultimately harm them.

Knowles Cites Amnesty International Report on Sexual Assault Rates

To highlight the scale of the threat, Knowles referenced a 2006 Amnesty International report that documented alarming levels of sexual violence against migrant girls traveling through Mexico toward the United States. According to the report, an estimated 60 to 80 percent of girls and women who cross illegally are raped or sexually assaulted during the journey.

Knowles noted that this statistic has been cited for years by humanitarian organizations, researchers and border analysts, and he argued that it reflects a systemic crisis that continues to endanger migrant minors today.

He added that criminal groups often require female migrants to take contraception before beginning the journey, not for health purposes but because rape is so common that pregnancy prevention becomes a grim form of preparation.

Knowles Says Border Policy Must Acknowledge the Human Cost

Knowles argued that ignoring the dangers faced by migrant children ultimately empowers cartels and traffickers. He said that discussions about border enforcement must confront the reality that illegal crossings expose children to violence at rates far higher than the public is typically told.

He criticized policymakers who portray illegal border crossings as compassionate or humane, saying such messaging overlooks the brutal conditions children face along the route. According to Knowles, minimizing or denying the risks only encourages more minors to make the journey and strengthens the criminal networks profiting from their vulnerability.

A Broader Call for Protection and Enforcement

Knowles concluded by saying that protecting children requires policies that discourage illegal crossings, dismantle smuggling operations and ensure that minors are not incentivized or enabled to undertake a journey dominated by violent criminal actors.

He argued that genuine compassion demands confronting the reality of exploitation rather than ignoring it and that the United States must recognize the connection between border security and child protection.

References

• The Michael Knowles Show. Episode discussing risks faced by migrant children during illegal border crossings and citing Amnesty International findings. Daily Wire.

• Knowles, Michael. Commentary on kidnapping, trafficking and sexual assault risks for minors crossing the border illegally. The Michael Knowles Show, Daily Wire.

• Amnesty International. Mexico: Invisible Victims — Migrants on the Move in Mexico. 2006. Report referenced for statistics on sexual assault of female migrants.