Mexican authorities are bribing migrants for money to cross over to the U.S.

U.S. Border Patrol confirmed that Mexican authorities are helping illegal immigrants cross into the United States by bribing them with money.

On April 11, a group of six illegal immigrants, including a four-year-old, were apprehended by the Border Patrol near Morelos Damn in Yuma.

Luis Martinez, a Nicaraguan migrant, confessed that a Mexican law enforcement official helped him cross the border by bribing him with money.

“Federals ask for money just to let you pass, and if you don’t then you can look for people who are making their way up here and if they have money, but you don’t then they let you continue with them because they don’t want you to snitch on them,” said Martinez.

He said his journey from Central America has been a difficult one for falling victim to several robberies as he made his way north.

Martinez, who said has left his homeland due to death threats for being gay, thinks he can’t go back to his country because the government promised him they would kill him. He said he has a scar on his chest due to an attack made with a blade during a protest fighting for LGBT rights in Nicaragua.

According to Border Patrol agent, Jose Garibay, it’s not a rare sight to hear about these cases where Mexican officials are bribed with money.

“We do hear in some cases about corruption that’s occurring. It’s not a new thing and it hasn’t just started happening recently, it’s been happening as long as we’ve been here. We’ve heard stories about it,” said Garibay.

When asked why Luis did not want to stay in Mexico, he said the country is as dangerous due to drug cartel violence.

“The gangs called Las Maras could easily be in Mexico and they have been. If I stay there, it’s just as bad,” Martinez said.