Rising Troubling Trend Involving Arizona Student-Athletes Uncovered

Trafficking

Allegations against student-athletes in Arizona for involvement in human smuggling have a deeper, unsettling reality.

At a Glance

  • “The Arizona Republic” has been investigating human smuggling by former Arizona Christian University football players for 18 months.
  • The U.S. Border Patrol arrested, but did not charge, the former players.
  • Students earn thousands of dollars by driving migrants from border towns to Phoenix.
  • High school and college students account for 20% of human smuggling stops in Arizona.
  • The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics will not investigate the incidents.

Investigations Reveal Troubling Trends

The Arizona Republic has spent the last 18 months investigating allegations of human smuggling involving former football players from Arizona Christian University (ACU). According to sources, students have been exploiting the lucrative opportunity of transporting illegal migrants across the state.

Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector, John R. Modlin, reported that 20% of the arrests made by his officers in connection to human smuggling involved high school and college-aged individuals. Notably, many of these young people have been recruited via social media by transnational smuggling organizations.

Border Patrol and Legal System Responses

Former ACU players, Malakai Samuelu and Junior Faualo, were arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol and found with an injured Mexican woman in their car. Despite the arrest, they faced no criminal charges and were released. This case illustrates a common pattern where those involved in human smuggling are arrested but not prosecuted, partly due to legal priorities favoring other cases.

“Over the past 18 months, “The Arizona Republic” has investigated human smuggling allegations against former football players from Arizona Christian University (ACU).”

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has stated it will not investigate these incidents. This choice highlights a broader issue where student-athletes linked to criminal activities potentially receive less scrutiny, whether due to lack of oversight or other variables.

Dangerous Lure of Easy Money

In 2023, former ACU quarterback Brady Martin revealed that his teammates could make thousands of dollars per night by driving migrants from border areas to metro Phoenix, likening their activities to driving for Uber. Such revelations indicate a shift in how young athletes perceive and justify their involvement in illegal activities—motivated largely by significant financial gains.

“The story of student athletes at Glendale’s Arizona Christian University doing just that, justifying human smuggling ‘as kind of like Uber,’ is at the heart of a report by The Arizona Republic’s Jason Wolf.”

While the students involved are no longer enrolled at the school, it is clear that the recruitment of young people into smuggling operations remains a persistent issue, with many recruits driven by the promise of quick and substantial cash.

Conclusion and Ongoing Inquiry

This disturbing trend raises serious questions about the moral compass of young athletes and their vulnerability to criminal recruitment. As the investigation by “The Arizona Republic” continues, more troubling details are expected to emerge, underscoring the need for more stringent oversight and aggressive legal measures to curb such illegal activities among youth.

“What we started to see was a lot of young people coming out of Phoenix to come and pick up these groups. And the more we looked into it, we recognized they were being recruited off of social media.”

Communities and institutions need to act proactively to shield young individuals from falling prey to such illegal and dangerous activities, instead guiding them toward making positive life choices.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR