Hollywood movies have long portrayed smugglers with dramatic scenes of high-speed car chases and secret tunnels beneath the U.S.-Mexico border.
But those tactics seem almost unnecessary compared to a far simpler method: using a rideshare app on a smartphone to move people across the border.
Cartels have reportedly turned to this creative approach, prompting U.S. Border Patrol to warn rideshare drivers to be on the lookout for suspicious passengers.
The agency also cautioned that drivers who assist smuggling operations could face serious legal consequences.
Smugglers Arrange Pickups at the Border
A report by USA Today stated that rideshare drivers near the U.S.-Mexico border have been warned by U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector about smugglers arranging pickups.
The Border Patrol confirmed that the smugglers are using rideshare apps and leading drivers to isolated places in the desert, remote highway shoulders near the border wall, and commercial staging lots.
As a result, Border Patrol has asked rideshare drivers to remain aware and report anything that suggests smuggling, such as passengers wearing heavily soiled clothing, those who appear stressed or remain clueless about their location, third-party bookings where the account holder is absent, and passenger groups trying to exceed vehicle occupant limits.
Border Patrol Agent Jose Navarro sent a message to rideshare drivers and unsuspecting members of the public, cautioning them against being used by the cartel. He told Fox News:
“They want to be able to use the public, and our message is don’t be used by the cartel.”
Drivers Risk Detention at Border Checkpoints
The Border Patrol has warned that drivers who continue ferrying suspicious passengers face the risk of being detained and investigated at highway checkpoints. They could also face felony charges. The Border Patrol stated in a July 7 press release:
“Under federal law, individuals found to be participating in these networks may face felony charges for alien smuggling and harboring.”
El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz said the extent of the driver’s involvement in the smuggling network is then investigated:
“Cartel criminal smugglers recklessly endanger the lives of rideshare drivers and passengers alike, treating legitimate drivers as disposable tools for their smuggling operations. When these trips are intercepted, drivers face immediate detention and asset forfeiture while federal agents investigate their level of involvement in the smuggling network.”
What Should Rideshare Drivers Do?
Drivers who come across suspicious pickup requests must focus on their own safety by canceling the ride and driving to a secure area, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Rideshare drivers should use the security features in the app and document their route. They must also report any suspicious activity or suspected human smuggling to law enforcement hotlines, such as 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Citizens who come across suspicious activity can report it to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.