A law enforcement source within U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports more than 600 migrants were apprehended in the Del Rio Sector on Friday. The flurry of activity began in the morning hours when nearly 400 migrants, mostly Haitian nationals were apprehended in Del Rio, Texas.
The official told Breitbart Texas the largest group in Del Rio was more than 150 migrants. The groups consisted of adult males and females including family units with small children. In Eagle Pass, Texas, 50 miles from Del Rio, Breitbart Texas found migrants waiting along roadways for Border Patrol agents to arrive for transport.
Del Rio Station Border Patrol agents process a large group of Haitian migrants who illegally crossed the border. (Photo: Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
The increase in traffic makes it difficult for the Border Patrol to perform routine patrols along the river in the Del Rio Sector as well as other parts of the border. The migrants freely entered illegally by wading across the Rio Grande while facing little opposition. Texas law enforcement authorities patrolled the riverbanks rounding up those that crossed but still could not hold back Friday’s traffic.
Breitbart Texas spoke to one group of migrants from Ecuador on Friday as they waited alongside a roadway for Border Patrol agents to arrive. In the group of eight migrants were several infants carried by their mothers as they withstood the midday heat. The group says they spent several months traveling to the United States and that they have exhausted all their funds. They were happy to finally see the Border Patrol agent arriving a short time later.
Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens patrol the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas , as part of Operation Lone Star. (Photo: Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
State of Texas law enforcement authorities including Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, were nearby patrolling the river and were observed apprehending several migrants while awaiting the Border Patrol transport units to turn the migrants over.
The source within CBP says the situation shows no sign of slowing. “We are stretched thin right now; we have our agents on overtime and barely getting one day off a week,” the source said. “Most of the day was spent transporting, processing, and caring for migrants, leaving little room to patrol in the field.”
Eagle Pass Station Border Patrol agents process a group of migrants near the RIo Grande. (Photo: Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
The current level of apprehensions made in the Del Rio Sector is the highest in 20 years. The sector arrested more than 149,000 migrants since October 2020. The Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector is second only to the Rio Grande Valley in apprehensions. Del Rio is showing a 500 percent increase in apprehensions over the previous year. The sector is averaging more than 900 migrant apprehensions per day.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.