What distinguishes human smuggling from human trafficking?

Human smuggling is primarily defined by the act of facilitating the illegal entry of individuals across international borders, often with a focus on the transportation aspect and the violation of immigration laws. This can involve transporting individuals who are seeking to enter a country without proper authorization. In contrast, human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals through coercion, force, or deception, regardless of whether they are transported across borders.

The distinction highlighted in the correct answer emphasizes that human smuggling is specifically related to the unlawful crossing of borders, while human trafficking does not necessarily require borders to be crossed. Trafficking can occur entirely within a single country and is defined more by the exploitation and control of individuals rather than by their movement across boundaries.

The other options do not accurately characterize the fundamental differences between these two illegal activities. For instance, human smuggling is not always involuntary, nor is trafficking always voluntary. Additionally, both smuggling and trafficking are crimes under various legal frameworks. Lastly, the legal residency issue is not a distinguishing factor, as smuggling does not guarantee legal residency, and trafficking, on the other hand, does not inherently involve the aspect of legal residency either.