A group of illegal aliens on horses were intercepted entering the U.S. this week.
On Friday, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Chief Mike Banks announced the bust, which unfolded at an undisclosed location.
“USBP agents, working with multiple agencies, shut down an illegal horse smuggling operation after spotting four riders crossing the border at an unauthorized location with multiple horses,” Chief Banks stated.
“Agents seized the horses, which are now pending veterinary clearance.”
USBP agents, working with multiple agencies, shut down an illegal horse smuggling operation after spotting four riders crossing the border at an unauthorized location with multiple horses. Agents seized the horses, which are now pending veterinary clearance. All four individuals… pic.twitter.com/bh8m8zFvPk
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) January 31, 2025
The border crossers are facing prosecution for smuggling and illegal entry.
Banks, who served as Texas border czar before accepting the nomination to run USBP, has communicated a number of significant apprehensions and policy rollouts in the past week.
USBP agents apprehended a Mexican criminal with a lengthy history of arrests, illegal entries, and deportations in Yuma, AZ.
“After attempting to flee, the repeat offender was taken into custody at his home, processed, and swiftly removed,” Chief Banks announced on Thursday.
USBP and HSI located and arrested a fugitive with a significant criminal history in Yuma, AZ. The Mexican national had prior arrests for burglary, domestic violence, and multiple illegal entries and deportations. After attempting to flee, the repeat offender was taken into… pic.twitter.com/Pb80SlnfoN
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) January 31, 2025
Also on Thursday, Chief Banks released details about the apprehension of a convicted child sex predator who has been deported twice in the past 28 years.
Eleazar Mendoza was arrested in Harlingen, TX, and now faces prosecution for reinstatement of a removal order.
Teamwork between Harlingen PD & USBP led to the apprehension of a convicted child predator near Harlingen, TX. Criminal history confirmed Eleazar Mendoza was convicted of sexually assaulting a child, sentenced to 8 years in prison, and deported twice (1997 & 2015). He now faces… pic.twitter.com/ONkKu2phy0
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) January 30, 2025
Between Jan. 22 and 29, USBP agents caught 4,577 illegal border crossers, a 55% decrease from the prior week.
In the past seven days, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 4,577 individuals attempting to enter the country illegally, a significant 55% decrease from the previous week’s 10,281 apprehensions. This trend indicates that our enhanced border security measures produce results.… pic.twitter.com/arLUYo98f6
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) January 29, 2025
The Trump administration has reduced illegal border crossings to the lowest levels in many years, with agents reporting near-zero traffic in some areas.
📍 El Paso Sector
— Wid Lyman (@Wid_Lyman) January 31, 2025
The number of illegal crossings is plummeting, but what about migrants who cross illegally and aren’t encountered aka ‘gotaways’?
Border Patrol agents are reporting to @BorderHawkNews that they are going entire shifts without a single gotaway.
This is a… pic.twitter.com/Rc97GU9qGn