News and reports from the Department of Homeland Security.

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) annual report on its efforts to train personnel in identifying signs of human trafficking reveals a significant increase in partnerships compared to the previous year. The Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) Annual Report disclosed that 275,000 government officials were trained, including law enforcement partners, nonprofit organizations, and aviation and transportation personnel.

The tragic death of two National Guardsmen and U.S. Border Patrol agent Chris Luna near the Texas border town of Rio Grande City has sent shockwaves through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for acknowledging the department's significant role in maintaining national security during his State of the Union speech.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at San Diego’s San Ysidro Port of Entry recently uncovered a significant stash of fentanyl pills, estimated to be worth over $11 million. The illicit substances were found hidden within a 2008 sedan. A CBP K9 unit indicated the potential presence of narcotics in the glove compartment area. Upon further inspection, officers discovered 100 packages containing blue pills concealed within the vehicle's dashboard.

Following a meeting with Indian Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristie Canegallo, expressed optimism that the discussion would facilitate an exchange of ideas on various topics. The primary focus was on maintaining positive business relationships while curbing illegal activities.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas was part of President Joe Biden’s team that recently toured the border in Brownsville, Texas. Following the tour, Mayorkas took to social media and posted a series of tweets urging Congress to pass legislation he believes will assist in reducing the influx of migrants into America.

Governor Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) has announced that the Montana National Guard will be collaborating with Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) to secure the southern border. According to a recent press release, Gianforte highlighted that this decision comes as every state, including Montana, grapples with the impacts of increased immigration and fentanyl distribution.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recently engaged in discussions with his Chinese counterparts in Vienna, Austria. The central focus of these discussions was to strategize ways to halt the production and distribution of fentanyl and associated compounds within China. This meeting followed a conversation between President Biden and President Xi at the Woodside Summit in November, where they discussed similar concerns. As a result, the U.S.-People's Republic of China (PRC) Counternarcotics Working Group held...

Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector have made several apprehensions involving sexual predators, as per social media posts by Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel. This information follows the recent sentencing of a Mexican national to over five years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor.

A Mexican national has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for human smuggling and unlawful possession of a firearm. The announcement was made by Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the Swanton Sector.

Border Patrol agents at Puerto Rico's Ramey Station recently thwarted a cocaine smuggling attempt involving 395 pounds of the narcotic. The estimated value of the seized drugs was $4.4 million, and they were being transported in a boat near the coastal city of Rincon.

Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel, Chief Agent of the San Diego Border Patrol, recently disclosed via social media that a Mexican citizen has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor. The offender and his brother reportedly guided the victim from Tijuana, Mexico into the United States in June 2022.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents recently intercepted approximately $4.3 million worth of cocaine near Mona Island in Puerto Rico. The narcotics, weighing around 384 pounds, were being smuggled by three non-citizens aboard a boat known as a yola.

The Houlton Sector of the Border Patrol has welcomed a new leader, Juan G. Bernal, who was recently appointed as the new Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) by Chief Jason Owens. Bernal succeeds Acting CPA Dennis W. Harmon, who led the Border Patrol in the region following the retirement of William J. Maddocks in June 2023.

A 32-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to 60 months in prison on charges related to human smuggling and illegal possession of a firearm, as revealed by Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia on social media.