LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector is warning rideshare drivers to be alert for signs they may be unknowingly assisting human smuggling operations linked to transnational criminal organizations.
According to Border Patrol officials, smugglers are increasingly using legitimate rideshare apps and third-party accounts to arrange transportation for migrants after they cross the border. Authorities say the tactic is designed to distance smugglers from the transportation process and reduce their exposure to law enforcement.
The agency is advising drivers to be cautious of passengers wearing heavily soiled clothing, groups attempting to exceed a vehicle’s occupancy limits, third-party ride bookings in which the account holder is not present, or passengers who appear distressed and unfamiliar with their surroundings.
Border Patrol says suspicious pickups are often arranged in remote desert locations, along highway shoulders near the border wall, or in commercial staging areas.
Officials warn that drivers who unknowingly transport individuals involved in smuggling operations could be stopped, detained, and investigated at federal immigration checkpoints, including those located along Interstate 25 and Interstate 10 near Las Cruces and U.S. Highway 54 south of Alamogordo.
Under federal law, individuals found to be knowingly participating in human smuggling or harboring operations can face felony criminal charges.
Border Patrol says drivers should remain aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
