How CBP Identifies and Removes Criminal Targets at the Northern Border

CBP's Targeted Enforcement Operations

• 🎯 Border Patrol is conducting targeted enforcement operations in the Spokane sector, focusing on individuals with prior criminal convictions.
• 🤝 Agents are working closely with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and HSI to identify and apprehend illegal immigrants convicted of crimes.
• 📈 Targeted enforcement operations are up over 100% compared to the previous year, attributed to agents not being deployed to the southern border.

Apprehension of Criminal Targets

• 🔍 During an operation, Border Patrol apprehended a group of individuals, including a primary target who had been encountered and deported multiple times.
• 💼 This main target was found to be operating a business and employing undocumented individuals.
• 🚗 In total, five individuals were arrested, including four who were allegedly working for the main target.

Encountering Different Cases

• 🇲🇽 Border Patrol also arrested a man from Mexico who was in the country illegally and on their radar.
• 🇻🇪 The driver in that instance was from Venezuela and had Temporary Protected Status, legally obligating Border Patrol to release him.

Addressing Cartel Threats

• ⚠️ Border Patrol recently apprehended a CG Cartel member, a group listed on the terrorist list.
• 🚨 The chief stated that going after these criminal targets is their current priority.

Border Security Strategy

• 🛡️ Despite a drop in encounter numbers at both southern and northern borders, Border Patrol is not lowering its guard.
• 🌊 They anticipate cartels may pivot to human smuggling tactics in response to US border actions.
• 🛰️ Agents are being redeployed to focus on their primary job of securing the border and conducting criminal arrests, leading to increased operational effectiveness.