Tijuana border crossing line jumping arrests, Digi Mart USA News (Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico): A surveillance operation near the Tijuana border crossings ended with the detention of 32 people accused of allegedly helping drivers irregularly enter vehicle lines to cross into the United States. The action followed reports from citizens about this type of practice at the border access points.
According to information published by San Diego Red on October 30, 2026, the director general of Municipal Police and Transit, David García Barraza, said the deployment took place during the previous week and identified people who allegedly intervened to let vehicles through through supposed arrangements or businesses. The detained individuals were placed at the disposal of a municipal judge, who would review the conduct attributed to each person.
Authorities said the interventions corresponded to different administrative offenses and that this procedure should not be confused with an arrest for proven crimes. At the Tijuana crossings, the term “gaviotones” is used to describe people who help other drivers join the lines without respecting the established order.
The practice generates frustration among those waiting their turn to cross, since some motorists can advance through the intervention of third parties instead of queuing behind vehicles that arrived earlier. Access to the San Ysidro and Otay crossings concentrates a significant number of cars each day, and during periods of high demand, lines can extend for several hours, increasing conflicts linked to irregular entry.
Municipal Public Security and Citizen Protection Secretary José Alejandro Avilés Amezcua said the force maintains measures to intervene when it receives direct reports about people who facilitate these entries. He explained that when complaints allow officers to identify the practice, those involved can be detained and presented before the appropriate municipal authority.
He also stated that the individuals named were not public officials but private persons who allegedly intervened to control vehicle entry into the border lines.
According to statements gathered by San Diego Red, Avilés Amezcua said the reported conduct decreased considerably after the operation. He also indicated that municipal police would act when citizens report new cases.
Municipal authorities asked the public to report situations in which people attempt to disrupt line order or facilitate irregular vehicle entry. For those using the border crossings, respecting established access points and arriving early helps avoid conflicts with other drivers and additional delays.
The detention of the 32 people is part of municipal actions to address complaints about these practices near the crossings. However, the information disseminated so far does not detail the identities of those detained or the individual sanctions the municipal judge may have determined.
