Border
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 »
Advanced Border Coordination Act would enhance law enforcement at southern border
Members of Congress proposed a bipartisan bill Oct. 22 that aims to strengthen law enforcement operations and collaboration at America’s southern border. “For the safety of our communities, we have to restore the rule of law and secure our borders, and DHS [Department of Homeland Security]... Read More »
Pending federal bill aims to improve visa processing
A bipartisan bill under consideration in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee would improve visa processing by reducing the need to mail physical copies of documents that are already submitted electronically, easing the burden on applicants and saving the U.S. State Department time and... Read More »
Committee passes bill to extend Homeland Security Task Force’s authority
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) announced Tuesday that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee had passed legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Joint Task Force’s authority. The bill would extend the task force’s authority for two... Read More »
CBP officers confiscate largest fentanyl seizure in history
On Thursday, officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency seized more than half of a ton of fentanyl pills, the largest singular fentanyl seizure in the agency’s history. The seizure of an estimated 4 million pills at the Port of Lukeville, AZ was part of Operation... Read More »
Border agency announces expanded enforcement against transnational criminal organizations
On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it was expanding enforcement efforts against Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). Troy Miller, senior official performing the duties of Commissioner said the agency would be expanding Operation Plaza Spike to the El Paso and... Read More »
Legislation introduced to strengthen border security support Shadow Wolves agents
On Monday, U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) introduced legislation to support Shadow Wolves agents and strengthen border security. The legislation, the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, would provide career mobility opportunities to Shadow Wolves law enforcement officers and... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee to consider new DHS requirements for U.S.-Canadian border
In introducing the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act (H.R. 8734) last week, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) sought to increase security and attention on the U.S.-Canadian border through several mandates at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill, which has 16... Read More »
Bill to establish Northern Border Coordination Center advances through Senate
The Northern Border Coordination Act, authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME), advanced through the Senate this week, carrying with it the possible creation of a federal coordination center to be collocated along the border with Canada. “The Northern Border... Read More »
Senate advances plans for Northern Border Coordination Center
Legislation by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) – Northern Border Coordination Act (S. 2291) – advanced through the chamber this week, putting their ideas for expanding coordination on northern border security into the hands of the House. If passed, the bill would... Read More »
New bill would require U.S. Intelligence agencies to develop cyber safeguards for ports
With the introduction of the Secure Smartports Act, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) seek to convince their fellow lawmakers of the danger to U.S. ports posed by Chinese cyberattacks and intrusion. “Every day we don’t understand the risks of relying on Chinese technology is... Read More »
Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Act proposes federal grant funding for physical border barriers
Through new legislation, U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Mike Turner (R-OH) recently placed themselves at odds with the Biden administration by seeking to enable federal grant funding for states to create physical barriers at the southern border. A hallmark of the previous Trump... Read More »
U.S. Coast Guard to conduct port security training exercise in Puerto Rico this month
Through an exercise known as Poseidon’s Domain, the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve will take crews from three of its Port Security Units (PSU) and put them to the test along the northeast and eastern coasts of Puerto Rico this month. From April 8 to April 25, crews from PSUs 305, 307, and 309 will... Read More »