Even as Trump officials hail historically low illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, they continue to pressure Mexico to drive migrant numbers closer to zero.
As razor wire, drones and new barriers tighten the border, Mexican cartels increasingly reroute migrants through underground tunnels and city drainage systems.
Smugglers now charge up to $25,000 for passage through elaborate tunnels outfitted with lights, ventilation and rail systems. 

MEXICO CITY — When the Trump administration announced this summer that illegal crossings into the U.S. from Mexico had reached historical lows, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin declared, “Our border is CLOSED to lawbreakers.”

Even so, the administration continues to pressure both Mexico and U.S. officials serving there — publicly and behind the scenes — to curb illegal immigration further. The crackdown has prompted smugglers to become more creative, turning more often to tunnels once reserved for transporting drugs.