Border
DHS announces “Operation River Wall” to bolster border security
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its latest initiative, Operation River Wall, would secure the Rio Grande against illegal immigration, narco-terrorists and other criminal activity at the country’s southern border. Officials said the operation would use response boats,... Read More »
Texas delegation pushes to reinstate cross-border threat screening center at Texas A&M University
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and other members of the Texas Congressional delegation urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reinstate the Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense Center of Excellence at Texas A&M University. The CBTS at Texas A&M assists state... Read More »
CBP, DHS award $4.5B in Smart Wall construction contracts
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security recently awarded 10 construction contracts totaling approximately $4.5 billion to add 230 miles of Smart Wall border security systems and nearly 400 miles of new technology along the southwest border. The Smart Wall... Read More »
DHS says border patrol apprehensions lowest in more than five decades
A report out from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said their preliminary enforcement numbers for September show the lowest number of border apprehensions since 1970. DHS said U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest Border for... Read More »
Smiths Detection launches baggage and cargo solution
Smiths Detection, a threat detection and security screening technologies company, recently launched a modular baggage and air cargo screening solution designed to help airports keep pace with change. The solution, SDX 10080 SCT, uses advanced dual-energy computed tomography and an optional... Read More »
U.S., Bahrain sign agreement on secure travel
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem this week signed an Enhanced Border Security Partnership with General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Minister of the Interior for Bahrain. The agreement strengthens the relationship between the U.S. and Bahrain, officials said, and... Read More »
Federal operation targets immigration fraud
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted Operation Twin Shield, an effort to conduct fraud detection and deterrence activities in Minneapolis-St. Paul and surrounding areas, on Sept. 19-28. The... Read More »
Coast Guard campaign seizes 75,000 pounds of cocaine
Since launching Operation Pacific Viper in early August, the U.S. Coast Guard seized more than 75,000 pounds of cocaine. Operation Pacific Viper is the Coast Guard’s counter-drug operation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the site of illicit narcotics transported from South America. It is... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection names Houlton Sector chief patrol agent
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently named Derrick W. Stamper as chief patrol agent of the Houlton Sector, effective Sept. 1. Stamper began his career as a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office sheriff’s deputy in Christiansburg, Va. He joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 2008 as a... Read More »
Legislation would increase penalties for illegal aliens entering the United States
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would increase penalties for foreign residents who illegally enter or re-enter the United States. The goal is to discourage migrants from coming to the United States illegally and to keep criminals out of the country. The... Read More »
U.S. Coast Guard announces largest-ever drug seizure
The U.S. Coast Guard announced its cutter Hamilton made its largest-ever drug seizure recently. On Monday, the ship offloaded more than 76,000 pounds of illegal drugs at Port Everglades Florida, part of Operation Pacific Viper. The seizure is the largest in the organization’s history in a... Read More »
DEA initiative aims to counter drug cartel operations in United States, Mexico
A new initiative between the United States and Mexico aims to strengthen collaboration in the fight against drug cartels. Project Portero, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) operation aimed at dismantling cartel operatives, called gatekeepers, who control the smuggling corridors along... Read More »
Seattle woman charged with murder of border patrol indicted on additional charges
A federal grand jury in the District of Vermont on Thursday indicted Teresa Youngblut, a Seattle resident accused of murdering a border patrol agent, for the assault of two additional agents with a deadly weapon and related firearms offenses. On Jan. 20., a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a... Read More »
ICE arrests 356 criminal illegal aliens in Houston area in first six months of Trump presidency
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 356 criminal illegal alien gang members in the Houston area during the first six months of the Trump administration. Collectively, the gang members, who were from more than 40 different gangs, were convicted of 1,685 criminal... Read More »
FBI, law enforcement partners arrest five members of Mexican Mafia in California
Law enforcement officers recently arrested five people associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang in several locations throughout the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange counties. Officers also seized methamphetamine, firearms, electronics and illicit proceeds. The arrests and seizures... Read More »
CBP seizes $23M worth of at Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, officers intercepted more than $23 million in alleged methamphetamine on July 6 at the Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility. The bridge connects Pharr, Texas, with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The drugs... Read More »
Philadelphia CBP intercepts ketamine destined for South Florida
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Philadelphia seized five shipments of ketamine hydrochloride destined for South Florida recently. According to the CBP, shipments of 57 pounds of ketamine were hidden in fishing rods and in boxes of toys. Agents with CBP said the seizure had a... Read More »
Legislation introduced to combat threats from Venezuelan gang
Legislation from U.S. Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC), co-sponsored by every Republican member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, would address the threat posed to the country by members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. The legislation, Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment... Read More »
CBP apprehended 8,725 aliens crossing southwest border in May
In May, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered 8,725 illegal aliens crossing the southwest border between ports of entry, according to the agency’s Stats and Summaries webpage. In 2024, the figure was 117,905. “Under the leadership of this administration, CBP has received... Read More »
Legislation would bolster northern border security
Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would boost security along the northern border. The Northern Border Staffing and Security Enhancement Act would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to Congress a northern border threat analysis every... Read More »
Legislation would make permanent CBP Innovation Teams
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would strengthen U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) ability to combat human and drug trafficking at the southern border. The Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act would make permanent Innovation Teams, a division... Read More »
CBP reports “dramatic” change in operations at the border
According to statistics released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for April, border agents patrolling the southern border are up and the number of immigrants entering the country are down. The monthly reporting, which can be viewed on the agency’s stats and summaries webpage, show... Read More »
DHS offering travel assistance, $1,000 stipend to illegal aliens for self-deportation
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a stipend of $1,000 to every illegal alien who self-deports. Aliens would receive payment after their return to their home countries is confirmed through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App. “If you are here illegally,... Read More »
Republicans advance Trump administration budget focusing on border security
Republicans in the House Committee on Homeland Security advanced its budget reconciliation recommendations to fund President Donald Trump’s border security efforts. The budget recommendation will complete the border wall and increase U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel while... Read More »
ICE, USCIS investigation leads to arrest of 370 illegal aliens in Massachusetts
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement partnered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in an investigation that led to the apprehension of 370 illegal aliens in Massachusetts. The agencies said that during a six-day enhanced operation in March, federal law enforcement partners and... Read More »
March southwest border crossings lowest on record
Crossings over the southwest border reached a record low in March, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. Approximately 7,180 southwest border crossings were recorded in March and there were approximately 230 southwest border apprehensions daily. The monthly average for... Read More »
Coast Guard increases presence near Mexico border
The Coast Guard recently increased its operational presence near the border between the United States and Mexico with the goal of enhancing border security and immigration enforcement. Coast Guard District Eleven has increased its counter-illicit-maritime-activities since Jan. 21, tripled its... Read More »
ICE arrests 32,809 people during Trump’s first 50 days
Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) made 32,809 enforcement arrests during the first 50 days of President Donald Trump’s second administration. The arrests include 14,111 convicted criminals, 9,980 people with pending criminal charges, 1,155 criminal gang members and 39 known or... Read More »
CBP closing processing facilities due to low border apprehensions
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it has begun reducing the number of soft-sided facilities along the southwest border due to low apprehensions. CBP will close soft-sided facilities in Donna, North Eagle Pass and Laredo, TX, as well as in Yuma and Tucson, Ariz. SSFs in San Diego,... Read More »
Los Indios Land Port of Entry in Texas to benefit from improvement project
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the General Services Administration have formally partnered to complete an infrastructure improvement project at the Los Indios Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Los Indios, Texas. The project will increase the... Read More »
Cocaine valued at $1.4M seized by U.S. CBP in Texas at Mexico border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) field operations officers seized cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.4 million at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry between Texas and Mexico on Thursday. The seizure occurred on Camino Real International Bridge. A CBP officer referred for secondary... Read More »
CBP testing facial biometrics at Canada, U.S. crossing
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun testing facial biometrics for travelers entering the United States in select vehicle lanes at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry between Fort Erie, Canada, and Buffalo, N.Y. Simplified Arrival-Vehicle Biometric uses facial biometrics to automate... Read More »
Two autonomous surveillance towers added in the Big Bend Sector
The U.S. Border Patrol recently deployed two additional autonomous surveillance towers (ASTs) in the Texas Big Bend Sector to improve border security operations. ASTs detect and monitor movement in remote and rugged terrain. Using artificial intelligence, they have the ability to differentiate... Read More »
CBP officials seize more than $2.1M in cocaine at Eagle Pass Port in Texas
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations officers seized more than $2.1 million in cocaine in a single enforcement action on Wednesday at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Eagle Pass, Texas. A CBP officer referred a tractor trailer for secondary inspection at the... Read More »