EL PASO, Texas — The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is warning rideshare drivers in the region about smuggling networks that are using legitimate mobile apps to arrange rides used in human smuggling operations, and about the criminal exposure drivers face if they unknowingly transport migrants for those networks, according to the agency.
According to Border Patrol, transnational criminal organizations use third-party accounts to book rideshare trips, arranging pickups in secluded desert locations, remote highway shoulders near the border wall, and commercial staging lots. The agency said drivers who accept those fares can be detained at highway checkpoints while agents investigate their level of involvement, and under federal law can face felony charges for alien smuggling and harboring if they are found to be part of the network.
According to the agency, warning signs drivers should watch for include:
Passengers wearing heavily soiled clothing.
Groups attempting to exceed vehicle occupant limits.
Third-party bookings where the person who requested the ride is not the passenger present at pickup.
Passengers who appear visibly stressed and unaware of their current location.
Border Patrol said drivers who encounter suspicious pickup requests should cancel the ride immediately, relocate to a secure area, use in-app security functions to document the route, and report the incident to the rideshare platform.
“Cartel criminal smugglers recklessly endanger the lives of rideshare drivers and passengers alike, treating legitimate drivers as disposable tools for their smuggling operations,” El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz said in a statement. “When these trips are intercepted, drivers face immediate detention and asset forfeiture while federal agents investigate their level of involvement in the smuggling network.”
For emergencies, the agency said drivers should call 9-1-1. Suspicious activity or suspected human smuggling can also be reported anonymously to the U.S. Border Patrol at 1-800-635-2509.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
