Border authorities have alerted rideshare drivers that human smuggling networks are utilizing their services to transport illegal aliens deeper into the U.S.
U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) issued an advisory explaining that such activity is particularly prevalent in El Paso Sector and warned that drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft could face federal charges even if they are unaware of the illicit activity in which they are participating.
USBP urges drivers hailed to “secluded desert locations, remote highway shoulders near the border wall, or commercial staging lots” to be on the lookout for these red flags:
- Passengers wearing heavily soiled clothing
- Groups attempting to exceed vehicle occupancy limits
- Third-party bookings where the account holder is absent
- Passengers who appear visually stressed and unaware of their current location
Drivers are recommended to cancel suspicious rides and report concerning activity to their platforms or law enforcement after they have moved to a safe location and documented their route.
“Cartel criminal smugglers recklessly endanger the lives of rideshare drivers and passengers alike, treating legitimate drivers as disposable tools for their smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz.
“When these trips are intercepted, drivers face immediate detention and asset forfeiture while federal agents investigate their level of involvement in the smuggling network.”
