Netflix's The Gringo Hunters is inspired by a real Liaison Unit: Here's all you need to know about it

Netflix’s The Gringo Hunters is inspired by a real Mexican police unit known as the International Liaison Unit, often referred to informally as the "Gringo Hunters." It is based on a 2022 article by Kevin Sieff in The Washington Post. It focuses on the story of the liaison Unit that captures about 13 American fugitives per month and has arrested over 1600 since 2002. Tijuana is not just a setting but also a central character in the show. The phrase "Here begins the Homeland" symbolises Mexico's pride and Tijuana's role as the country's northern gateway.

Many U.S. citizens, including those with criminal records, cross into Mexico illegally to evade law enforcement. These fugitives wrongly assume Mexico is lawless or won’t cooperate with U.S. authorities. The Liaison Unit works with Interpol, U.S. Marshals, and ICE to locate and expel these individuals, often without extradition processes. Read on to know more.

Here is how Netflix's The Gringo Hunters is inspired by a real Liaison Unit

As mentioned, The Gringo Hunters is adapted from a 2022 Washington Post article which featured a real life Liaison Unit within the Baja California state police. The unit is based primarily in Tijuana near the US-Mexico border. Their mission is to track down and deport American fugitives who cross into Mexico to avoid prosecution in the U.S.

The creators wanted the series to feel realistic while delivering high-level action sequences. It sets a new standard for portraying elite police units in Mexican television. Netflix’s Counterattack, a Mexican action thriller was an inspiration behind The Gringo Hunters. The show is coming to light by flipping the traditional immigration narrative on its head. Instead of focusing on Mexicans trying to cross into the U.S., the show centres on a specialised Mexican police unit that tracks down and deports illegal American immigrants hiding in Mexico. The unit is responsible for handling the case sensitively and avoiding any political blowback.

The cast of The Gringo Hunters explored

Since Donald Trump became the president of the USA, the immigration policy has focused heavily on arresting and deporting undocumented Latino immigrants, often without due process. By flipping this power dynamics, the show has portrayed the same plight with a new twist—by keeping the oppressor in the position of the oppressed.

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The show premiered on July 9, 2025, on Netflix and is inspired by real-life events. It comes with a brilliant list of cast members, which includes José María Yazpik, Harold Torres, Mayra Hermosillo, Manuel Masalva, Andrew Leland Rogers, Héctor Kotsifakis, Regina Nava, and Dagoberto Gama. The cast even met the real-life Gringo Hunters during development for authenticity.

Along with this, the script and production took two years to develop. The producers, Rafael Ley and Stacy Perskie, said they were drawn to how the show breaks clichés, especially the outdated idea that Mexico is where criminals go to hide. Kevin Sieff helped guide the story and connect the team with real sources.

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