Border Patrol agents are continuously apprehending violent criminals and gang members, all of whom are military-age foreign nationals that entered the country illegally.
In the past month, Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens has highlighted the arrests of foreign nationals entering the country, particularly those who are considered to be some of the most violent criminals. These individuals include known gang members from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela.
Arrests in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Sector, covering two west Texas counties and all of New Mexico, have recently apprehended individuals with extensive records of violent crimes. The arrested individuals have a history that includes offenses such as child molestation, rape of a child, sexual assault of a child, aggravated assault, rape, murder, manufacture/trafficking of firearms and ammunition, and theft, among others.
Ysleta Station Border Patrol agents in El Paso County apprehended a Honduran national who had an active warrant from Honduras for attempted homicide. According to Owens, the individual will face prosecution, deportation, and extradition to serve his jail term for the crime committed.
Three Colombian nationals with violent criminal histories, including firearms trafficking, aggravated homicide, kidnapping minors, aggravated assault, and theft, were also apprehended. Additionally, one of them was a prison fugitive.
In Colombia, another individual from Colombia was apprehended for unlawfully entering the country. This person confessed to being involved in the possession, production, and trafficking of illegal firearms and ammunition on two distinct occasions. As a result, they were sentenced to 68 months in prison.
El Paso Border Patrol agents apprehended a Venezuelan man who was in the country illegally and had a warrant for theft of a firearm and tampering with evidence in Fort Worth. They also detained three men from Ecuador and the Dominican Republic who were associated with gangs and had criminal records that included aggravated robbery, firearms trafficking, endangering the welfare of a child, and felony manufacture/distribution of heroin/cocaine.
In New Mexico, Border Patrol agents at Deming Station apprehended a Mexican citizen who had previous convictions for serious crimes including first-degree murder, battery, stalking, and probation violations. According to Owens, this individual, referred to as an aggravated felon, should not be present in the United States, let alone residing in our communities.
In a successful operation, Border Patrol agents from Las Cruces Station apprehended a total of 10 illegal foreign nationals, among them two key figures and a member of the Paisas gang. The U.S. Attorney for the district of New Mexico will be handling the prosecution of the principals on charges of conspiracy to transport, while the Paisas gang member will face charges for felony re-entry into the U.S., according to Owens.
In Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Kingsville, Texas, Border Patrol agents apprehended two individuals who were convicted felons with charges related to sexually assaulting or battering victims under the age of 12. These arrests were made as part of efforts to combat child predators.
According to the latest data from CBP, the majority of gang members arrested in fiscal 2022 were affiliated with MS-13, with a total of 751 arrests. In fiscal 2024, CBP has apprehended 195 gang members, with the majority being affiliated with “other” gangs, followed by Paisas, as of the most recent update on April 4.
According to Owens, there have been a total of 215 arrests related to gang affiliation this fiscal year. The highest number of arrests are associated with the Paisas gang, with a total of 47 arrests. Following closely behind are MS-13 with 30 arrests and Surenos with 26 arrests.
According to him, the key to keeping them incarcerated lies in convictions and their subsequent consequences.
