Chief Jason Owens United States Border Patrol | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol agents in Union, Maine, arrested a Colombian national identified as a confirmed member of the South American Theft Group (SATG) on July 30, 2025. The individual was found to be illegally present in the United States and is now being transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations for detention.
Authorities reported that records showed the subject had an active warrant from New Jersey for burglary. The person had previously been apprehended by Border Patrol agents in El Paso, Texas, in June 2022 for illegal entry and processed for expedited removal. Further investigation flagged the individual as a potential national security threat due to their connection with SATG, which is involved in transnational organized crime.
The U.S. Border Patrol stated that ongoing operations across Maine have led to significant numbers of apprehensions statewide. These efforts rely on targeted actions at points of entry, intelligence-driven operations, and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.
“Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. Public safety, border security, and national security threats are the number one focus of the Border Patrol, and we will apply all resources available to us to apprehend these individuals and impose consequences,” said Houlton Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Craig Shepley.
CBP has introduced a voluntary program allowing individuals who are illegally present in the country to use the CBP Home app (https://go.dhs.gov/wqB) to record their intention to depart voluntarily. Those eligible may receive travel assistance, help with documents, reduced priority for detention while preparing for departure, and a $1,000 stipend upon confirmation of leaving through the app.
CBP describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization focused on border management and national security.
