Illegal immigration may hit another all-time monthly high for the Biden administration. That’s in addition to the current historic record of over 4.1 million encounters, excluding “gotaways.”
Over the last few weeks, Border Patrol (BP) has observed a sharp increase in illegal border crossings in the Tucson Sector. Chief John Modlin highlighted the encounters of “large groups” throughout the week. In all, Modlin documented seven large groups totaling over 1,000 illegal immigrants.
Between Tuesday evening and Thursday evening, Ajo Station agents encountered five large groups of migrants.
In just three days, 478 individuals were taken into custody. Representing 14 countries and covering four continents, several Tucson Sector assets provided assistance. pic.twitter.com/B0nzQIvyP2
Between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, Ajo Station agents encountered three large groups of migrants. A total of 204 were taken into custody, all adults and family units.
Despite the challenges large groups present, Tucson Sector agents remain steadfast. pic.twitter.com/uFhQfVQSz7
Large groups of migrants from at least 17 different countries spanning three continents were encountered by Ajo Station agents over this past weekend. In just five groups, 321 were taken into custody near Lukeville, AZ. pic.twitter.com/9nxcRIvhCM
The first week of December, Modlin reported that these large groups accounted for hundreds of migrants at a time.
Two groups totaling 122 migrants were encountered by Ajo Station agents near Lukeville, AZ, Tuesday. Representing at least nine countries, the group was taken into custody without incident.
Tucson Sector agents handle large diverse groups with excellent professionalism. pic.twitter.com/sWFCjDbagl
Ajo Station agents continue to encounter large groups near the Port of Lukeville.
Fifty migrants were encountered Wednesday evening, consisting of Cubans, Dominicans, Nicaraguans, and Peruvians. They were taken into custody and transported for processing. pic.twitter.com/EKtqtMw7Ox
Ajo Station agents continue to encounter large groups of migrants.
On Friday, groups of 93, 101, and 59 were apprehended between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. A total of 253 migrants from 10 different countries were taken into custody, requiring several agents for transport and processing. pic.twitter.com/J5GuRS7qo2
The heightened migration surge doesn’t just include those seeking refuge from cartels and oppressive governments. On an almost weekly basis, BP officials document the arrests of illegal immigrants with prior criminal convictions.
Honorio Perez was arrested by Three Points Station agents near San Miguel, AZ, Sunday. The Guatemalan citizen is a felon. In 2013, he was convicted of aggravated child molestation in #Georgia and sentenced to prison for five years. He faces criminal charges. #BorderSecuritypic.twitter.com/FMBLWUG8rg
On Monday, Douglas Station agents arrested four Mexican citizens near Douglas, including Armando Perez-Vera. In #Colorado, he was previously convicted of felony sexual assault. He will be extradited for an outstanding warrant in that state. #HonorFirstpic.twitter.com/3YWW1pxhIb
Convicted murderer faces criminal charges after crossing the border illegally.
Raul Trevizo-Dominguez, a previously removed Mexican citizen, was arrested near Nogales, AZ. He was previously convicted of 2nd degree murder in #Phoenix, AZ, and sentenced to prison for 16 years. pic.twitter.com/IT1N8ub0Go
Another registered sex offender arrested by Tucson Sector agents.
Ramon Mendoza-Schultz was arrested Tuesday near Amado, AZ. The Mexican citizen was convicted of several felonies in #Phoenix, including sexual abuse and molestation of a child. He faces criminal charges. #GoodWorkpic.twitter.com/RLSgSvqtL4
For fiscal year 2022 (FY2022: Oct. 2021 – Sept. 30 2022), the number of illegal immigrants apprehended with one or more prior criminal convictions swelled to over 12,000.
The last time that the country experienced similar numbers was during the final months of the Obama administration and the first few months of Trump’s administration (over 12,800 in FY16). Throughout Trump’s administration, these numbers dropped steadily by several thousand every year: FY2017, over 8,500; FY18, about 6,700; FY19, over 4,200; FY20, over 2,400.
For FY2021, there were over 10,700 criminal illegal immigrants apprehended. At this trend, there could be around 14,000 criminal illegal immigrants arrested for FY23.
Percentagewise, the most notable increases in criminal conviction types concerned those convicted of homicide or manslaughter.
This year's criminal illegal immigrant data reflects a dramatic uptick since the last administration: Murderers +1,966% ; Weapons traffickers +530% ; Robbers & thieves +526% ; Drug traffickers +480% ; Assailants/Domestic abusers +449% ; Repeated illegal aliens +439% … pic.twitter.com/tw1FDPLTrQ
Despite the continuing surge of illegal immigration, President Joe Biden commented ahead of his first-ever visit to Arizona during his term that the border wasn’t important.
Based on the current average monthly encounters, there will be over 8.8 million illegal immigrants coming into the country by the end of Biden’s term. That’s more encounters than former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George Bush’s last two years combined.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
The flood of illegal immigrants hasn’t slowed down in President Joe Biden’s border crisis, and it looks like it won’t anytime soon. According to Customs and Border Patrol’s (CBP) latest report, over 173,600 illegal immigrants were apprehended at the border in November — up nearly 5.5 percent from the previous month. The Office of Field Operations (OFO) accounted for much of that jump, reporting a 40 percent surge.
The majority of the fiscal year 2021 surge comes from single adults: nearly 64 percent. Less than 28 percent are family unit apprehensions (FMUA), and less than 8.5 percent are unaccompanied children (UC).
On Thursday, Border Patrol (BP) Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin showcased one of their latest catches: three illegal immigrants stuffed in the trunk of a sedan.
Smugglers continue to endanger lives by confining individuals in spaces not meant for humans. Douglas #USBP agents and the Cochise County Sheriff's Office foiled a dangerous human smuggling attempt on Hwy 191, discovering three migrants inside the trunk of a sedan. #Vigilancepic.twitter.com/oJGzbEdJYi
As AZ Free News reported, Modlin has consistently documented the reality of border apprehensions.
Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) criticized the Biden Administration for their continued lack of resolve over the border crisis. Gosar pointed out that more illegal immigrants crossed the border in the last three months than in all of former President Donald Trump’s final year in office.
“Mr. Biden’s open border policies are an open invitation to criminals and drug cartels to cross into our country unchecked,” said Gosar. “The crisis has reached a new level and Yuma, Arizona in my district is ground zero, as hundreds of illegal aliens cross into Yuma daily and even more are staging along the border waiting to simply walk across. Yuma is under siege because Mr. Biden and Border Czar Kamala Harris are nowhere to be found. The first priority of the President of the United States is to protect the people of America. Sadly, Joe Biden puts Americans last and he has lost the trust of its citizens.”
Amid the ongoing crisis, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough rejected efforts to grant amnesty to up to 7 million illegal immigrants through the $2 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Based on Senate rules and nearly two centuries of precedent, MacDonough determined that the amnesty effort wouldn’t be permissible; reconciliation concerns spending and revenue, though Democrats have attempted to argue that immigration relates to those two subjects. That was the third proposal on illegal immigrant amnesty brought before MacDonough, which would have allowed those here illegally since at least 2010 to apply for up to two five-year work permits.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the ruling “deeply disappointing.” Psaki stated that their administration would continue working to secure amnesty.
“The decision by the parliamentarian is deeply disappointing and relegates millions to an uncertain and frightening future,” said Psaki. “Ultimately, it’s time for Congress to stop kicking the can down the road and finally provide certainty and stability to these groups, and make other badly needed reforms to our outdated immigration system.”
Conversely, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) applauded MacDonough’s opinion. FAIR President Dan Stein criticized Democrats’ attempts to abuse the reconciliation process.
“For the third time, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough rejected attempts by Senate Democrats to use the budget reconciliation process to enact a sweeping amnesty for as many as 7 million illegal aliens. FAIR applauds Ms. MacDonough for her integrity and ensuring that longstanding rules of the Senate were not subverted to achieve partisan political ends,” stated Stein. “Sadly, Senate Democrats, who hold the majority in that body solely because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast the tie-breaking vote, have made repeated attempts to use budget reconciliation to make an end run around normal legislative procedures. We hope that this, her third rejection of these tactics, will finally put an end to their efforts to abuse the process in order to reward illegal aliens.”
PRESS RELEASE: FAIR Applauds Senate Parliamentarian for Rejecting Massive Illegal Alien Amnesty as Part of Budget Reconciliation Bill https://t.co/y8hNIIdlAc
Governor Doug Ducey has been working with Border Patrol to strengthen enforcement. Earlier this month, he announced the Arizona National Guard would provide 24 personnel, six vehicles, four ATVs, and one helicopter to support the Department of Public Safety, as well as additional tactical assistance in hotspots.
TUCSON, AZ – Tucson Sector Border Patrol Agent Dan Cox, and a civilian motorist died in a head-on collision on State Route 86 outside of Sells, Arizona at 12:20 a.m. Saturday, July 31.
According to Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin, multiple emergency response agencies, including a life flight, responded to the scene.
A short time after the collision, both the Agent Cox and the sole occupant driver of the other vehicle were pronounced dead on the scene.
