Human Smugglers Are Making Their Own Fake Border Patrol Vehicles To Sneak Migrants Into U.S.

Human smugglers are increasingly turning to cloning U.S. Border Patrol vehicles as a method to transport migrants illegally into the country amid intensified border security measures under President Donald Trump's administration.

Fox News delved into the growing trend, which immigration attorney Meesha Moulton said is not a new practice but has become more prevalent in response to recent immigration crackdown policies:

"Once they're in the country, they may be left stranded, extorted or forced into labor. These organizations are also using fake law enforcement vehicles to transport drugs, weapons and other illegal goods, making it even harder for officials to tell real agents from the criminals impersonating them."

One such case took place in Arizona in mid February, when two U.S. citizens (Uriel Perez and Jovani Sanchez) along with Mexican national (Keven Valdez Ramirez) used a cloned Border Patrol K-9 vehicle to smuggle 24 migrants through a breach in the border wall near Andrade, California, to a residence in Yuma, Arizona.

The truck, a white Ford F-150, was modified to resemble an official Border Patrol unit, complete with matching license plates. The driver also wore a uniform similar to that of Border Patrol agents.

Border Patrol agents monitoring the area observed the vehicle at the breach site and later tracked it to a Yuma residence, where several individuals attempted to flee as law enforcement arrived. Authorities found 24 migrants inside, including a woman who required medical assistance. During the search they also discovered Border Patrol-style clothing.

Previous incidents cited by Fox News also include a 2023 case in which border agents discovered a "cloned" truck near Calexico, California, linked to a smuggling attempt involving 17 individuals. Similar cases have been documented since at least 2022.

The trend coincides with smuggling costs being raised considerably as of late in the U.S.-Mexico border. Texas Department of Public Safety officials report that as crossings decline—Border Patrol data shows a 76% drop in encounters in January 2025 compared to the previous year—organized smuggling networks have raised their fees.

A migrant recently apprehended near McAllen, Texas, disclosed that he agreed to pay $18,000 to be smuggled into the U.S., with an initial $12,000 payment and a remaining balance of $6,000.