For over two decades, a unit of Mexican police officers has quietly operated along the northern border, tasked with locating and deporting foreign fugitives who cross into Mexico to avoid criminal charges in their home countries.
Informally known as The Gringo Hunters, this team works out of Tijuana and specializes in finding and removing these escapees—primarily Americans—who enter Mexico hoping to elude the U.S. legal system. Officially, they are designated the International Liaison Unit of the Baja California State Police.
Their real-world activities provided the inspiration for Netflix’s new series The Gringo Hunters (Los Gringo Hunters), premiering July 9. The drama is based on a 2022 Washington Post article that offered a rare look into how the unit tracks, arrests, and deports fugitives with speed and discretion.
Below is all the key information about the actual “Gringo Hunters” behind the Netflix series.
A Unit Largely Unknown Outside Mexico
Since its formation in 2002, the unit has deported more than 1,600 fugitives—mostly American men wanted for serious offenses such as homicide, kidnapping, sexual assaults, and drug trafficking. They average approximately 13 arrests each month. Among those apprehended are individuals on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, serial killers, and billionaires accused of securities fraud.
The Gringo Hunters operate in civilian attire, drive unmarked vehicles, and depend on intelligence from U.S. agencies like the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Marshals. They are trained in both Mexican and U.S. legal systems and focus exclusively on high-profile cases. Part of their training involves observing people who stand out in Mexican communities—an essential skill when tracking suspects who often attempt to blend in. For instance, fugitives frequently wear more shorts and flip-flops than locals and speak little Spanish. Officers also watch for erratic behavior and physical characteristics such as tattoos or scars documented in U.S. criminal databases.
Instead of undergoing lengthy extradition procedures, the unit utilizes immigration violations to swiftly deport suspects. Most arrests are completed within hours. Since U.S. agents cannot operate independently in Mexico, they rely on Mexican police to carry out arrests. This method is not formal extradition, which requires a court process. Technically, fugitives are deported for breaking Mexican immigration laws.
The Case That Brought the Unit to Public Attention
Until 2022, the unit was largely unfamiliar outside law enforcement circles. That changed when Washington Post international investigative correspondent Kevin Sieff embedded with the team as they prepared to apprehend Damion Salinas, a 21-year-old American accused of murder in California.
Sieff’s report details how officers tracked Salinas in Ensenada, confirmed his identity, and coordinated with U.S. Marshals. The arrest occurred by the roadside and concluded within seconds. Salinas was deported almost immediately.
The article offered a rare glimpse into the unit’s daily tactics and discreet operational style. Officers spend hours conducting surveillance in neighborhoods where fugitives are believed to be hiding. They travel in unmarked vehicles and avoid wearing uniforms to reduce the risk of alerting suspects.
Subtly Reshaping the Border Narrative
The unit’s nickname emerged informally among locals as a shorthand for their mission: finding and detaining foreign fugitives who believe crossing into Mexico places them beyond the reach of justice. While the team does not officially embrace the name, it reflects a reversal of the traditional border narrative. Instead of Mexicans fleeing north, Americans are concealing themselves south of the border, and are being pursued by Mexican law enforcement.
Although Netflix’s The Gringo Hunters dramatizes their story, the actual officers perform their duties quietly and effectively. They arrest fugitives and swiftly return them to face justice, often without public attention or fanfare. Their work demands patience, precision, and close coordination with U.S. law enforcement.