According to a news release administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), February 2 was a day fraught with arrests effectuated by Rio Grande Valley (RGV) agents; a total of 27 unlawful migrants were taken into custody throughout that day.
The Texas cities of Linn, La Gloria, Hidalgo, and Roma were the sites of four disrupted unlawful migrant smuggling attempts including three vehicle pursuits and one stash house.
The 27 unlawful migrants were variously captured through these methods of apprehension: immigration inspection of a truck (near Linn), a vehicle stop (near La Gloria), surveillance-camera monitoring of a well-known smuggling area involving pursuit of a truck (Hidalgo), and confirmation of a reported stash house (Roma).
The drivers of every vehicle involved were able to evade RGV agents.
None of the drivers have been located.
It is also uncertain if every accompanying unlawful migrant that escaped from the vehicles has been located.
According to a summary of U.S. Border Patrol enforcement actions related to arrests of unlawful migrants, 2,438 unlawful migrants were apprehended at the border in 2020.
In 2021, 10,763 unlawful migrants were apprehended.
Within the present year, 2,424 arrests have already occurred.
The detained individuals have been charged with multiple crimes: assault, battery, domestic violence, burglary, robbery, larceny, theft, fraud, DUI, homicide, manslaughter, illegal drug possession, trafficking, illegal entry and illegal re-entry, illegal weapons possession, transport, trafficking, sexual offenses, and other convictions.
Upon convening with 11 state attorneys general on January 27, Governor Greg Abbott raised concerns about the management of border security by President Joe Biden.
Abbot asserted: “Texas is responding in full force to the Biden administration’s failure to address the disaster at our border, and our efforts are made stronger by the collaboration with other state leaders from across the country. Like Texas, the attorneys general here today are working night and [during the] day to provide the safety and security Americans demand and deserve; and, I thank them for their support and continued efforts to secure our border and to keep communities across America safe.”