A U.S. Border Patrol agent tragically lost his life on Monday after being shot in the neck during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont. The incident involved a suspected illegal immigrant who, according to reports, had overstayed their visa.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens has announced his retirement, effective April, after nearly 30 years of service with the agency. Owens, who became the 26th chief of the United States Border Patrol in June 2023 under President Biden, led during a time of significant challenges, including record-breaking surges in migrant crossings.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended President Joe Biden’s delay in taking executive action on the southern border during an interview with PBS NewsHour on Tuesday. Facing criticism from outgoing ICE Deputy Director P.J. Lechleitner, who argued the administration should have acted sooner, Mayorkas emphasized that earlier action would have likely faced litigation with uncertain outcomes.
A federal judge in Vermont sentenced Luis Fernando Barragan-Palacios, 29, to 18 months in prison for smuggling nearly 100 migrants across the Canadian border into the United States. Barragan-Palacios, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, earned approximately $500,000 from the human smuggling operation over a five-month period. He is expected to be deported upon completing his sentence.
President Joe Biden, 82, claimed that illegal migration numbers “came way down” after he assumed office. However, official statistics and reports indicate otherwise, showing a sharp increase in unauthorized crossings during the first three years of his presidency.
A recent immigration enforcement operation in Kern County, California, provided a glimpse of what may become more common under anticipated changes to U.S. immigration policy. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector carried out "Operation Return to Sender," targeting criminal migrants in and around Bakersfield. The three-day initiative resulted in nearly 80 arrests, including several sex offenders and individuals with warrants for weapons and drug-related charges.
U.S. Border Patrol agents and Coast Guard crews intercepted 24 Cuban migrants near Key West, Florida, last week after their makeshift boat approached U.S. shores. This incident is one of several recent interdictions highlighting the risks of maritime migration in the region.
Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents discovered a sophisticated smuggling tunnel connecting Mexico to El Paso, Texas. The tunnel, equipped with electricity and ventilation, was found during a routine inspection of a storm drain.
The discovery of 11 migrants locked inside the rear compartment of a U-Haul truck in New Mexico highlights the dangerous lengths smugglers will go to evade authorities and exploit illegal immigration.
