Some human smugglers have turned their eyes to cloning border patrol vehicles to illegally transport immigrants to the United States amid President Donald Trump's border crackdown.
Meesha Moulton, managing partner and owner of Meesha Moulton Law in Las Vegas, told Fox News Digital that cloning of Border Patrol vehicles is not a new phenomenon. She said criminal organizations are “continuously” finding new ways to bypass border security.
Under the new Trump administration, their efforts are increasing in the president's mission to halt illegal immigration. The administration's crackdown included the closure of former President Biden's CBP One program. This allowed Mexican immigrants to schedule appointments calling for asylum at legal border intersections.
Moulton said he witnessed first-hand how these operations create legal disruption, risk lives, and strain law enforcement resources.
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Human smugglers have turned to cloning border patrol vehicles to bypass security measures. (US Customs and Border Protection)
He said the cloning of the vehicle was part of a long-standing human smuggling operation in the United States. Moulton said the smuggling networks “profit in despair,” leaving many immigrants trafficked when they went illegal in the United States.
“Once they're in the country, they might get stuck, forced or given workforce,” she said. “These organizations use fake law enforcement to transport drugs, weapons and other illegal goods, making it even more difficult for officials to communicate to actual agents from criminals who are pretending to be them.”
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Reuters reported When the Trump administration concluded with illegal immigration, immigrants relied on expensive smuggling operations.
Alex Diaz, one immigrant in Honduras, told the outlet that he investigated a smuggling operation that promised safe delivery to the US after his CBP was cancelled.
“I didn't want to come illegally, but Trump can't take America's dreams from me,” Diaz told Reuters. He told them that the smuggler had safely arrived in San Antonio, citing him $7,000.
A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle south of the border was seized by Mexican authorities after agents observed suspicious activity nearby. (US Customs and Border Protection)
Vehicle cloning is not a one-off event. US customs, border security and state law enforcement are warning the public of an increase in smuggling incidents using fake border patrol vehicles.
Recently in February, the group used official vehicles to transport immigrants, demonstrating how bold these criminal organizations have become.
The February 4th indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona alleges that Uriel Perez, Giovani Sanchez and Queven Valdes Ramirez conspired to transport immigrants from violations of the border wall near Andrede, Arizona.
Mexican and American citizens have tried to illegally smuggle 24 Mexican citizens into the United States, authorities said.
The trio were equipped with white Ford F-150 pickups that are fully customized for federal K-9 units. The driver also equipped himself with something similar to the border guard uniform.
Images of cloned border patrol vehicles seized by agents following a short pursuit in California. (US Customs and Border Protection)
In July 2023, legal border agents discovered an individual cutting an international steel boundary fence a few miles from the port of Calexico. The investigation led to the discovery of a “clone truck” and a Ford F-150 pickup truck, with 17 people who believed it was being used by 17 individuals who crossed the border. Attempts to smuggle.
In September 2022, El Centro Station's remote video surveillance system operator observed and notified the Border Patrol Chevrolet Tahoe, which could potentially travel the highway.
An 18-year-old US citizen was arrested and a “cloned” SUV was seized.
A photograph of the truck shows the truck bed with the word “booty patrol” and the doors are decorated with decals that mimic law enforcement seals. (Desoto County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
A Florida man was pulled to drive a truck painted similar to the appearance of a border patrol vehicle, but read “Loot Patrol” on his back.
The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office issued a public service announcement in November 2023, warning residents of fake pickup trucks. The driver was not involved in human smuggling operations, but authorities warned that impersonation could lead to quotations.
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A photo of the white truck shows the “booty patrol” on the back and side panels, with diagonal green stripes on the sides of the taxi.
Inside a tunnel across the border to the Tijuana and San Diego regions of Mexico. (Homeland Security Survey via AP)
The sophisticated smuggling tunnel between the southern border and the United States is well documented and adds another complexity to the ongoing efforts to reduce illegal immigration.
Fox News Digital previously reported on the complex tunnel system that connects the US with its southern neighbors.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency reports that while most illegal drugs in the United States are smuggled through vehicles at the entrance to the southern border, some pass through tunnels and underground passages across the border.
According to a UN report, there are more than 40 million victims of human trafficking around the world. (Fox News)
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Moulton said many migrants who find themselves caught up in human smuggling operations are often victims of human trafficking or fraud.
“Smuggling operations make it difficult for legal asylum seekers to navigate the system, further complicating immigration policies and creating negative immigration immigration immigration immunity,” she said.
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Immigration attorneys advocate for better coordination between law enforcement, immigration officers and legal advocates, saying the coordination “helps dismantling criminal networks before they risk more lives.”
Fox News Digital contacted the White House and US Customs and Border Protection for comment.
