Over 50 convicted sex offenders have been apprehended by Del Rio Sector Border Patrol in just over half a year, according to Chief Patrol Agent Robert Danley.
“Since October 1, 2023, Del Rio Sector Border Patrol agents have apprehended 54 convicted sex offenders after illegally crossing the border and attempting to evade law enforcement,” Mr. Danley posted on X, April 10.
The overwhelming majority of those apprehended have previous convictions of sexual crimes against children.
“Our agents remain steadfast in safeguarding our border and protecting our communities,” Mr. Danley said.
Out of those apprehended, one sex offender was captured while attempting to evade law enforcement agents with a group of illegal immigrants.
The Del Rio Sector in Texas covers an area of over 55,000 square miles, including just under 250 miles along the Rio Grande river and Lake Amistad.
Information shared by the Del Rio Sector on April 9 shows that between March 31 and April 6, Border Patrol agents reported nearly 2,000 apprehensions, over 470 gotaways, and nearly 30 smuggling cases, in addition to four rescues.
Furthermore, nine encounters with criminals were reported, with five illegal re-entries, three DUIs, and one false citizenship claim.
Over 2,200 apprehensions of illegal immigrants, as well as over 750 gotaways, were reported the week before.
Official data shows over 240,000 encounters at both ports of entry at the southern border in October last year alone, with over 300,000 encounters just two months after, in December, the highest number ever recorded.
While numbers reportedly dropped in January, they rose again one month later, in February, to around 190,000 encounters. In addition to the encounters, officials also recorded a huge spike in illegal narcotics seizures.
Over 180,000 of the illegal immigrant encounters in the first five months of fiscal 2024 were in the Del Rio Sector alone, of which almost 100,000 were single adults.
The remainder was comprised of around 75,000 family units and close to 9,000 unaccompanied children.
Encounters with criminal illegal immigrants also occurred at the Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector, which saw a dozen illegal immigrants with prior convictions arrested in February. The sector covers an area of roughly 125,000 square miles.
“Migrants with criminal convictions encountered by El Paso Sector agents include aggravated felons such as sex offenders, child predators and drug traffickers. Additional offenses include illegal possession of firearms, assault, domestic violence, and burglary. Some of the migrants encountered have gang or Mexican Drug Cartel affiliations,” Customs and Border Protection reported.
“CBP continues to work with our foreign and domestic partners to enhance enforcement efforts: aggressively targeting unscrupulous human smugglers, and swiftly applying consequences against those who cross the border illegally and have no legal basis to remain in the United States,” stated Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy A. Miller.
