Criminal Illegal Migrants Still Pouring Over Open Border

AUSTIN, TX – Recent developments along the Texas-Mexico border have intensified concerns about illegal immigration and its potential threats to national security. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in coordination with state and federal agencies, continues to apprehend large numbers of illegal immigrants, many of whom hail from countries with significant terrorist activity.

These alarming figures come at a time when lawmakers, such as Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), are warning of the dangers posed by individuals entering the United States with criminal records, often under the protection of sanctuary city policies. Gonzales' district spans the longest portion of the U.S. - Mexico border from Eagle Pass to El Paso.

Since March 2021, Operation Lone Star—Texas’ mission to secure its southern border—has led to more than 521,780 illegal immigrant apprehensions and over 47,450 criminal arrests.

DPS Director Steven McCraw recently reported the capture of two large groups of illegal immigrants in late September and early October, many of whom were from "countries of special interest" like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and India—nations linked to terrorist activity.

On Sept. 30, a group of 230 illegal immigrants was apprehended by the Texas DPS near Eagle Pass. Among them were 27 individuals from these special interest countries, all of whom were turned over to federal authorities for additional vetting. According to McCraw, these individuals were not typical asylum seekers; rather, they were attempting to enter the United States undetected, which raises concerns about potential threats to public safety.

“These are not illegal immigrants seeking asylum,” said McCraw. “They are people trying to cross into the United States undetected who may also be trying to do us harm.”

In addition to the 27 individuals from special interest countries, 41 other illegal immigrants from countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala were arrested for criminal trespassing and taken to the Val Verde Processing Center.

This was followed by a second incident on Oct. 2, when DPS Troopers assisted the Texas National Guard in apprehending 135 illegal immigrants, including 13 from Turkey and one from China. This group was discovered near the Hopedale subdivision, north of Eagle Pass.

Adding to these concerns, on Sept. 21, DPS arrested Umar Farooq Ashraf, a South African flagged by the Terror Screening Center as possibly connected to terrorist activity. Ashraf remains in state custody on criminal trespassing charges.

The growing number of illegal immigrants entering the United States with criminal backgrounds is not only a concern for state authorities but also a matter of grave importance for national lawmakers. Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), whose district spans from Eagle Pass to El Paso, has been a vocal critic of current immigration policies, particularly sanctuary city policies that he argues shield dangerous noncitizens from deportation.

In a letter dated March 13, 2024, Rep. Gonzales expressed his concerns to President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking information about the number of illegal immigrants with criminal records. It took some time to get a response that came over 9 months later on September 25. The response to Gonzales from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deputy Director Patrick Lechleiter, revealed that over 662,566 noncitizens on ICE’s national docket have criminal histories, with many still residing in the United States undetained.

“We’ve known for far too long that the Biden-Harris border crisis poses a direct threat to Americans,” said Gonzales. “The truth is clear—illegal immigrants with a criminal record are coming into our country. The data released by ICE is beyond disturbing, and it should be a wake-up call for the Biden-Harris administration and cities across the country that hide behind sanctuary policies.”

Gonzales emphasized the need for Washington to act, noting that sanctuary cities make it difficult for federal authorities to remove dangerous criminals, thus endangering communities. He has pledged to use his role as an Appropriator to ensure ICE has the necessary resources to prioritize the deportation of noncitizens with criminal records.

The data provided by ICE Deputy Director Lechleiter early last week underscores the severity of the situation. As of July 2024, there were 662,566 noncitizens on ICE’s docket with criminal histories. Of these, 435,719 were convicted criminals, and 226,847 had pending criminal charges. The following table breaks down the most serious charges of these individuals:

This data reveals that the majority of these noncitizens, even those with serious criminal backgrounds, remain in the United States due to either non-detention or sanctuary policies. The table illustrates the scope of criminality, ranging from violent crimes such as assault and homicide to drug-related offenses and immigration violations.

As Operation Lone Star and federal authorities continue to grapple with the challenges of illegal immigration, the data underscores a more significant national security concern—how to handle noncitizens with criminal histories.