Chris Olivarez

Trump Effect: Migrants Abandoning Attempts to Reach, Stay in United States

Recent reports from the United States Border Patrol reveal a new trend among migrants headed to the United States hoping to cross the U.S./Mexico border. The migrants, according to recent reports, have become discouraged by Trump’s mass deportation operations and are choosing to turn back, abandoning their attempt to reach the United States altogether.

Migrants turning back to Nicaragua (U.S. Border Patrol)

Smugglers Abandon Two Little Girls After Crossing Border into Texas

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers rescued two young girls who were abandoned by human smugglers along the Rio Grande after crossing from Mexico. During his successful bid to retake the White House, President-Elect Donald Trump called on Congress to apply the death penalty to child traffickers.

Abandoned Children at Texas Border (Texas Department of Public Safety)

WATCH: Migrants Scale Federal Walls at Opposite Ends of Texas Border

Videos provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety show migrants breaching federal border walls at opposite ends of the state’s border with Mexico. In El Paso, migrants became aggressive when confronted by Border Patrol agents. In McAllen, smugglers ferried a ladder across the Rio Grand to scale a border wall.

Border Wall Breaches in El Paso and McAllen (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Cartels Lose Tactical Advantage as Texas Clears Border Island

Mexican cartels lost a major tactical advantage along the Texas border as state military units completed the clearing of an island located along the Rio Grande. The cartels have used the formerly brush-covered island for years as a staging area for human and drug smuggling.

Fronton Island, Texas.(Texas Department of Public Safety)

2nd Migrant Busted near Border with Child Porn in Two Days, Say Texas Cops

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers interdicted a human smuggling attempt near Bracketville and found a migrant with child pornography on his cell phone. This is the second bust in as many days of migrants illegally in the United States being busted by Texas troopers with child porn on their cell phones.

Dagoberto Corea Mende arrested for alleged possession of child porn. (Texas Department of

EXCLUSIVE: Migrant Rush Forces International Bridge Closures in Texas

International ports of entry in Eagle Pass, Texas, were closed for nearly one hour after a group of nearly 50, mostly Venezuelan migrants, attempted to force their way through one of the ports to claim asylum. According to a source within CBP, the group of migrants forced their way onto Bridge One but were repelled by CBP Office of Field Operations personnel who closed the gates and shut down all traffic on Tuesday evening.

CBP officers stand by to repel illegal border crossers at a port of entry. (U.S. Customs a

Texas Investigates Allegations of ‘Inhumane’ Border Policies Made by State Trooper

Texas Department of Public Safety Office of Inspector General investigators are looking into allegations of “inhumane” border security policies made by a DPS trooper deployed to the border region. A DPS trooper alleged he was ordered to “push people (migrants) back into the water to go to Mexico.” He also expressed concern over an order to “not give people water.”

Texas Highway Patrol trooper appears to instruct migrants to return to Mexico. (Randy Clar

Watch: Texas Police Marine Unit Arrests Suspected Migrant Smuggler in Rio Grande

Texas Highway Patrol troopers are using innovative techniques to reduce the migrant flow at one of the busiest border crossing spots in the nation. In addition to plans to construct a floating border barrier in the area, the agency is using drones and its Tactical Marine Unit (TMU) to arrest migrant smugglers in mid-river in the Rio Grande. On Tuesday, the unit surprised one suspected smuggler who was caught unaware of the airboat’s swift approach.

A Texas DPS Tactical Marine Unit arrests an alleged human smuggler in the Rio Grande near

Migrant Apprehensions at Border Hit 9K per Day, Says Texas DPS

The apprehension of migrants crossing the southwest spiked to more than 9,000 per day, according to an official with the Texas Department of Public Safety. This compares to approximately 7,200 per day during December — the highest month for the Biden administration and the second-highest month in Border Patrol history.

A large migrant group surrenders to Border Patrol agents in Brownsville, Texas. (Randy Cla