U.S. Border Patrol agents are grappling with a new challenge as human smugglers attempt to transport illegal immigrants in vehicles designed to resemble those used by the agency. This information was recently disclosed by Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin of the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector.
"Second cloned #BorderPatrol vehicle intercepted by Three Points Station agents this week. Kudos to our vigilant agents for their unwavering dedication. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI," said R. Modlin, according to X.
In a recent update, Chief Jason Owens revealed that Border Patrol agents in Newfield, Arizona had been involved in a human smuggling incident involving a vehicle made to mimic a Border Patrol vehicle. "One agent was assaulted during the arrest of the USC driver and 11 undocumented subjects," Owens wrote, adding that "Criminal prosecution for the assault is being pursued."
In July 2023, another instance of such deceptive tactics came to light when a cloned U.S. Border Patrol vehicle was discovered in Mexicali, Mexico, according to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) news release. The discovery was made after El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents noticed someone cutting through the steel international boundary fence approximately five miles from the Calexico Port of Entry and subsequently alerted their Mexican counterparts who seized the vehicle.
Acting Chief Patrol Agent Daniel Parra expressed gratitude towards their Mexican partners for their continued support in border security efforts. "The men and women of the El Centro Sector Border Patrol thank our partner, Director Maestro Pedro Ariel Mendivil Garcia, and the Direccion de Seguridad Publica Municipal in Mexicali for their continued support of achieving the common goal of border security," said Parra.
The news release further reported that when agents responded to this incident on July 22, they found 17 migrants inside a cloned truck designed to look like part of the Border Patrol fleet. Although still within Mexican territory at the time of discovery, it was clear that an attempt at human smuggling had been thwarted.
According to CBP officials cited in the news release, they are well aware of this cloning tactic and remain vigilant for such fakes. The vehicle in question, along with the migrants, were seized by Mexican law enforcement officials and the damaged international boundary fence was subsequently repaired.
