CBP Arrest Migrants on Terrorist Watchlist at the Border Following End of Title 42
United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents have made several arrests at the border over the weekend after apprehending individuals who are on the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB).
According to a report from Breitbart, five migrants were arrested in the Tuscan Sector in Arizona by CBP agents while attempting to avoid detection and processing after crossing the U.S. southern border illegally on Friday. The five individuals were arrested in separate incidents and were later discovered to be on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist.
On Wednesday, hours before the expiration of Title 42, an Afghan national on the FBI’s TSDB was apprehended and arrested by CBP agents in Otay Mesa, near San Diego, California according to Fox News reporter, Bill Melvin. After being apprehended alongside a large group of migrants, CBP agents ran the individual’s fingerprint scan to confirm that he is in the FBI’s database, triggering an investigation.
During the fiscal year 2023, which began in October 2022, CBP has apprehended 80 non-U.S. citizens listed on the FBI’s TSDB, the number this year is expected to surpass last year’s total arrests of 98.
“During [FY17 through FY20] [CBP] agents apprehended only 14 migrants appearing in the national security database. During FY 21, FY 22, and Year-to-Date FY 23 agents apprehended 196 known or suspected terrorists on the list, the CBP report states. These numbers do not include the arrests on Friday.”
Breitbart
During FY2023, the Office of Field Operations and CBP combined apprehended more than 15,000 criminal non-citizens which “refers to non-citizens who have been convicted of crime, whether in the United States or abroad, so long as the conviction is for conduct which is deemed criminal by the United States.” The vast majority of criminal non-citizen encounters were for individuals arrested for illegal drug possession and trafficking, illegal re-entry into the U.S., driving under the influence, assault, and theft.
“Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents told Frontlines Reporters that 90 percent of illegal immigrants are given ‘notice to appear’ documents, but less than 10 percent show up on their court date.”
“Frontlines Reporter Savanah Hernandez, who is at the border in El Paso, Texas, called the situation ‘a giant catch and release’ operation. CBP agents are not able to immediately expel or turn away illegal border crossers.”
TPUSA Live Feed
DHS spokespeople and others within the administration have made an effort to downplay the border crisis, however, agents on the ground are under constant pressure to screen the thousands of people who are illegally pouring over the border.
