A startling update from the U.S.-Mexico border has emerged: more than 10,000 Special Interest Aliens (SIAs)—migrants from countries with ties to terrorism—were apprehended during the first two and a half months of the new fiscal year, which began October 1.
Among these arrests was a recent case on December 5, where Border Patrol agents intercepted three Syrian migrants entering the U.S. Virgin Islands by boat. The numbers, as shared by Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens, paint a concerning picture.
Key Highlights:
- October Trends: A large group near Eagle Pass, Texas, included SIAs from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and India. Throughout October, 124 Iranian nationals were apprehended at border crossings.
- November Escalation: Texas DPS troopers detained migrants from Mali and Angola, among others, and uncovered groups including unaccompanied children and SIAs from Iran and Turkey.
- December Surge: By early December, 11 SIAs, including individuals from Iran and Turkey, were arrested near Eagle Pass.
Why Eagle Pass?
A source within Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated that violence in Sinaloa, Mexico, may be prompting SIAs to use Eagle Pass as a crossing point, a location previously seen as less active for such migration.
The Bigger Picture
The increasing numbers of SIAs at the border raise concerns about national security, calling for heightened vigilance and transparency in managing border safety.
What are your thoughts on these developments? How should border security respond to the rising trend? Reply to this email and let’s discuss!
