News and reports from the Department of Homeland Security.

United States Border Patrol Chief, Jason Owens, recently used the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to report that December has been a particularly challenging month for migrants attempting to cross the border. He highlighted the ongoing risk of death and the necessity for rescue operations associated with illegal entry into America.

A 29-year-old Romanian woman was recently apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Buffalo, Lewiston Bridge border-crossing on an active felony arrest warrant from Fairfax, Virginia. The woman, who had intended to travel to Niagara Falls, Canada, mistakenly took a wrong turn on the border-crossing bridge and ended up in the U.S. She was identified by officers after failing to provide any identification.

Officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Cincinnati recently intercepted 11 shipments of counterfeit jewelry. The items, had they been genuine, would have been valued at over $6.96 million. The shipments originated from India, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has reported a 7.4% increase in the number of homeless veterans in the United States during 2023. The findings were derived from the 2023 Point-in-Time count, a statistical measurement that examines the number of Americans without permanent housing at the time of the count.

The U.S. government has initiated measures to counteract the activities of a human smuggling and drug trafficking group based in Sonora, Mexico, operating on the southwest border. This initiative is also supported by the Mexican government.

Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin of the Yuma Sector Border Patrol recently commemorated an agent who tragically drowned two decades ago while attempting to rescue migrants. The memory of the agent's service, according to McGoffin, will be forever etched in the annals of the agency.

John R. Modlin, the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson sector, recently commemorated the 13th anniversary of a fallen agent on social media platform X. He emphasized that the agency would forever remember the sacrifices made by the agent to protect their jurisdiction.

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents conducting a routine checkpoint on Highway 86 uncovered an attempt by a motorist to transport cocaine. The individual behind the wheel is identified as a 30-year-old female U.S. citizen.

The individuals implicated in a fatal human trafficking incident that occurred off Imperial Beach in 2022 have been sentenced to prison. The incident resulted in the deaths of three people after their boat capsized. The United States Attorney’s Office Southern District Office officially announced the sentencing.

A 28-year-old man was detained with the assistance of Sault Ste Marie Border Patrol Agents after he brandished a knife at officers from the Bay Mills Police Department. The agents were summoned to aid in the arrest.

U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Buffalo sector played a crucial role in the arrest and identification of a man who was allegedly trying to purchase and lure a child into his vehicle. This announcement was made by Chief Patrol Agent Thomas G. Martin on X, formerly known as Twitter.

San Diego Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel has recently voiced her concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about the persistent exploitation of the area by smugglers for human trafficking. This statement was issued in light of recent events where the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Diego Field Office intercepted over 14,000 pounds of narcotics that drug traffickers were attempting to smuggle into the U.S. through California ports of entry in November.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently disclosed that it has conducted its eighth removal flight to Venezuela since the resumption of air flight removals in October. This operation is being facilitated with assistance from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Eight of the 13 Minneapolis City Council members have appealed to the mayor, requesting a delay in the eviction of the city's largest homeless encampment until February. This stance has been labeled as "bizarre" by a report from the Center of the American Experiment.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided recommendations for individuals planning to travel abroad this holiday season. One of their key suggestions is the use of a mobile application designed to facilitate re-entry into the United States.