One dead after Mexican cartel opens fire on illegal immigrants taking Uber across US border without their permission

Members of a Mexican cartel opened fire on illegal immigrants who were utilizing Uber rides to cross the into the US across southern border unlawfully, according to a report by the New York Post. 

The incident occurred in Caborca, an area heavily under the control of Mexican cartels. The victims, all from Ecuador, were traveling in three separate Uber vehicles when they came under attack from the cartel. Tragically, one woman lost her life in the shooting, while four others sustained injuries.

According to an internal Border patrol memo leaked to the Post, Transnational Criminal Organizations are targeting migrants attempting to enter the US illegally. In the past several weeks there have been multiple deadly attacks on vehicles carrying individuals to the US/Mexico Border. 

John Modlin, Chief of Border Patrol’s Tucson sector in Arizona, emphasized the grim reality faced by individuals attempting to cross the border in such areas, stating that they must seek the cartel's permission or risk severe consequences.

“No one does without. We have experienced when people try to, and we’ve seen them beaten for trying to cross without paying the fees,” Modlin said before the House Homeland Security Committee last July.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels echoed Modlin's sentiments, explaining to the Post the control that cartels hold over border crossings in this area. 

“I see the intel reports, I’ve seen the control they have on people coming across the border, the fear they dominate with and it’s just reality," Dannels told the Post.

This news comes at a time when illegal border crossings have reached an all-time high under President Biden's leadership. Last December, UC Customs and Border Protection tallied over 80,000 arrests near Tucson, Arizona alone. 

Republican officials have continued to blame Biden for being ineffective in combatting cartel violence near the southern border. Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused Biden of being in "partnership" with the Mexican cartels.

"Joe Biden is clearly in partnership, without saying it, without having a written contract, with the cartels… He has told them openly, bring as many people here as possible as fast as you can. You don’t have to hide from us anymore," Paxton said at CPAC 2024.