FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday that a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official has been charged with attempting to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and making false statements to federal investigators.
U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, a military veteran and dedicated public servant, was killed during a traffic stop near the Canadian border in Coventry, Vermont, on Monday afternoon. Maland, 44, was known for his commitment to protecting Americans and his unwavering dedication to service.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in riot gear temporarily closed the international bridge to Mexico just before President Donald Trump took the oath of office. During his inaugural address, President Trump declared his intent to take immediate and decisive action on border security, including plans to declare a state of emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and to end the Biden-era CBP One immigration app.
As President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas approach the conclusion of their tenure on January 20, Mayorkas' border policies remain a significant point of contention. Reports indicate that by then, approximately 1.5 million illegal migrants will have entered the U.S. through parole programs established under Mayorkas' leadership.
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.
A disturbing case underscores the ongoing failures of the U.S. immigration system under lax border policies. Yordy Centeno-Melchor, a 30-year-old illegal immigrant with a criminal record spanning over a decade, was arrested on New Year’s Eve in Alabama for allegedly attempting to kidnap a teenage girl.
Outgoing acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director P.J. Lechleitner expressed strong criticism of the Biden administration's delayed efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
