Haitians Outpace Other Nationalities In Arrests At Texas-Mexico Border

DEL RIO, Texas, CMC – The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agency says agents assigned to the Del Rio Sector in Texas have arrested more Haitian nationals than migrants from Guatemala or El Salvador since October 1.

“This is of concern to me, Del Rio continues to be a desired location for migrants from Haiti and the continent of Africa,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz in a statement on Friday.

“We continue to work with DHS (US Department of Homeland Security) and our law enforcement partners to address this issue.”

CBP said this increase marks the first time that arrests of Haitian nationals have surpassed arrests of either Guatemalan or Salvadoran nationals.

Since October 1 – the beginning of Fiscal Year 2020, Del Rio Sector Border Patrol agents have arrested nearly 500 Haitian nationals, more than 50 per cent of total US Border Patrol apprehensions, CBP said.

Del Rio Sector’s total apprehensions this year to date are in excess of 7,000, nearly a 50 per cent increase in the total number of arrests made during the previous fiscal year to date.

CPB said nearly 5,000 of the individuals arrested this year, close to 70 per cent, are from about 38 countries other than Mexico.