EXCLUSIVE: Cartels exploiting rideshare apps for migrant smuggling, Border Patrol warns

LIEUTENANT COLONEL GOB AND PHIL. FLYNN. "FAULKNER FOCUS" TOP OF THE. HOUR. >> Bill: BORDER CROSSINGS MAY BE. DONE. BORDER PATROL AGENTS SAY. SMUGGLERS ARE USING RIDE SHARE. APPS TO ARRANGE PICKUPS FOR. ILLEGALS AND WARNING. UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS COULD BE. HELD RESPONSIBLE WHETHER YOU. KNOW IT OR NOT. BROOKE TAYLOR IS ON THAT AND. TALKED WITH SOME AGENTS. WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT, BROOKE? GOOD MORNING. >> HI, BILL. WE KNOW ILLEGAL CROSSINGS ARE AT. HISTORIC LOWS.

BORDER PATROL HAS AN URGENT. WARNING SAYING THEY ARE SEEING. AN INCREASE IN SMUGGLERS AND. CARTELS USING THESE RIDE SHARE. SERVICES TO MOVE ILLEGAL. MIGRANTS DEEPER INTO THE U.S. WE SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY WITH BORDER. PATROL AGENTS IN EL PASO ABOUT. THIS. THEY SAY CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS. ARE USING LEGITIMATE DRIVERS TO. KEEP CARTEL MEMBERS AWAY FROM. LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THE. CARTEL OR GANG MEMBER. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE.

PUBLIC. THAT'S WHAT OUR MESSAGE IS. DON'T BE USED BY THE CARTELS. >> AGENTS WARNING DRIVERS TO BE. SUSPICIOUS OF PICKUP REQUESTS IN. REMOTE AREAS. THIRD PARTY BOOKINGS OR. PASSENGERS WHO LOOK DIRTY, ANXIOUS OR ARRIVE IN GROUPS. IT COMES AS ILLEGAL CROSSINGS. REMAIN NEAR RECORD LOWS. DHS HAS BORDER PATROL. APPREHENSIONS IN JUNE WERE 94%. LOWER THAN THE BIDEN ADD MIN'S. MONTHLY AVERAGE. AGENTS WANT DRIVERS WHO ACCEPT. THESE FARES COULD BE DETAINED.

AND FACE FELONY ALIEN SMUGGLING. OR HARBORING CHARGES. >> YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THE. SITUATION IS I'M JUST DOING MY. JOB. YOU ARE MAKING MONEY FOR THESE. CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION, THIS. CARTEL THAT EX TORTS FAMILIES. >> WE ASKED THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S. OFFICE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO. PROSECUTE DRIVERS WHO CLAIM THEY. DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE. TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS. THEY SAY QUOTE, WE AGGRESSIVELY.

PROSECUTE ALL ALIEN SMUGGLING. CASES AND WILL USE ALL AVAILABLE. EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE ANYONE WHO. PARTICIPATES IN MOVING ILLEGAL. ALIENS INTO THE UNITED STATES. WE REACHED OUT TO BOTH UBER AND. LYFT. UBER SAID SAFETY FOR THEIR. DRIVERS IS A TOP PRIORITY AND. POINTED TO FEATURES AND DRIVERS. CAN CANCEL RID.