Smugglers Using Drones to Guide Illegal Entrants

According to the U.S. Border Patrol in the El Paso sector, human smugglers are using drones to help guide groups of immigrants looking to enter the United States illegally.

Drone-Assisted Illegal Entry at US Border

A report by KVIA7 News indicated that in mid-April 2019, a Border Patrol agent was monitoring the border at night using an infrared camera when he observed a small airborne object traveling northbound across the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico border. Officials told KVIA that the object traveled roughly 100 yards over U.S. territory and then returned to Mexico. This happened three times, and about two minutes after the last return to Mexico, a group of 10 migrants entered the United States illegally in the same area where the drone was spotted.

In a news release, the Border Patrol stated, “This is the first known time in recent history that a drone has been utilized as a ‘look-out’ in order to aid in illegal entries in the El Paso sector.” The news release did not provide any details on the type, size or speed of the drone that was observed.

Night Vision Drones

There are dozens of different kinds of drones available on the market for both hobbyists and commercial operators. Most do not come standard with thermal cameras or night vision capabilities, but even basic hobbyist drones can be modified to include this capability. Many drones can fly several kilometers away from their operators and controllers, and they can achieve speeds of 40 mph or greater.