Cases of "Blind Mules" Rise at the Tijuana Border

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

What seemed like a routine border crossing into the United States turned into a nightmare for Samantha Flores—known on social media as San Florari. On April 24th, at the San Ysidro port of entry, she was detained by Customs and Border Protection agents. 

The unthinkable happened. “There was a person hidden in my trunk. [The agent] said to me, ‘You were carrying a person in your trunk.’ I was just stunned—I thought, ‘It can’t be!’ The very first thing I blurted out was, ‘That’s impossible! My trunk was packed full of junk!’” 

She was held for over seven hours, left completely in the dark while her family had no idea where she was. “All I could think was: ‘They’re going to lock me up. How many years will I get? Will I ever see my children again?’” Although she was eventually released, the damage had already been done. 

Her visa was revoked, and her SENTRI pass was confiscated. The repercussions also extended to her mother, her sister, and her children. “Look, they took away all our SENTRI passes—even my mom’s and my sister’s—and they informed me that they would be canceling my children’s visas as well.” 

Her case is being handled by attorney Josefina Orozco, an immigration specialist who warns that this is no longer an isolated incident. A “blind mule” is any person who unknowingly transports drugs or stowaways hidden inside their vehicle. However, under U.S. law, the driver is always held liable—regardless of whether they had any knowledge of the contraband. 

“If Samantha ends up with a charge of human smuggling on her record—of being a *coyote*—she will never be able to legalize her status should she ever wish to immigrate to the United States.” Over the past year, her law firm has documented between 30 and 40 similar cases, particularly along the Tijuana-San Diego border. 

Migrant support organizations have confirmed this alarming trend. “Ultimately, people are simply seeking better opportunities in life, and they will continue to try—despite the harsh enforcement measures currently in place by the U.S. government.” 

Hiding people in a vehicle’s trunk puts lives at risk—exposing individuals to suffocation, accidents, and death. It also shatters the life of the unsuspecting driver who ends up unwittingly entangled in the crime. Therefore, the recommendation is clear: inspect your vehicle before crossing and report any anomalies before reaching the inspection booth. 

The tightening of U.S. immigration policies is making it increasingly difficult to enter the United States irregularly. Customs and Border Protection authorities themselves have revealed that some of the undocumented individuals who have entered specifically through this crossing point paid anywhere from $8,000 to $30,000.

Source: Uno Tv

Source: https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2026/05/cases-of-blind-mules-rise-at-tijuana.html