Over 150 undocumented immigrants with connections to cartels have been apprehended since the commencement of the 2024 fiscal year on October 1, as stated in a social media post by Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens.
"This FY24, USBP apprehended +160 undocumented subjects with gang affiliations. These gangs (Paisas, MS-13, etc.) are involved w/murder, extortion, narcotics, weapons/human trafficking & prostitution. This is a threat to our safety and why we need agents patrolling the border", said Jason Owens, according to X.
In March of 2023, according to a news release from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Border Patrol agents with the El Centro Sector arrested a known member of the MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gang and another individual just east of the Calexico Port of Entry. Both individuals were discovered to be undocumented and were transported to the El Centro Sector Processing Center for processing.
El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino commented on this incident, saying, "The El Centro Sector agents make life difficult for criminal gang members who wish to make our country their home. We will do everything within our power to ensure such predators are prevented from harming American citizens, as is often the case."
According to the same news release, one of those apprehended was a 26-year-old male identified as an affiliate of the MS-13 street gang with connections to several Central American countries. This individual had previously been deported on April 22, 2016 by an immigration judge. The two undocumented immigrants were expected to be deported back to their countries of origin.
Data from the CBP website reveals that during the first three months of the 2024 fiscal year, CBP officials encountered 985,819 people with single adults making up 564,641 of that number. In comparison, over 3.2 million people were apprehended in fiscal year 2023; more than 2.7 million encounters occurred in fiscal year 2022; and around 1.9 million individuals were arrested in fiscal year 2021.
