How Google Maps May Be Helping Illegal Immigrants Skirt Border Controls

By Rachel Stoltzfoos Published on March 17, 2016

A series of user-published Google maps point out known border patrol checkpoints and stations along the U.S. border with Mexico in an apparent effort to help illegal aliens avoid border controls.

One of the maps titled “Routes to Avoid,” has close to 600,000 views. The user dropped pins at dozens of different checkpoints and border stations using “Google My Maps,” a service that allows users to create and publish custom maps.

“These are known locations of known border patrol checkpoints some are permanent and some are temporary; these can be placed along stretches of highway near the border zone,” reads the description of the map.

Each pin has a short description and sometimes a link to a relevant map or information about that location from the official Google Map. One of the pins is dropped at mile marker 54 on California Interstate 15, near Temecula.

“Checks traffic going north on I-15,” the description reads. “It is also right at the end of San Diego county going into Riverside county. Will also set up temporary stations on Rainbow Canyon Rd/CA 395.”

A “Related Maps” button links to at least a dozen other maps with information regarding both the southern and northern border. Some of the information is clearly public knowledge, such as the location of a border patrol station, while other information is based off of experience or hearsay.

Another pin dropped north of Tombstone has this description: “Checkpoint located somewhere north of Tombstone. Has been checking northbound traffic on Highway 80 since 2007. Exact location not found.”

 

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