Del Rio, Texas, Police Chief Frank Ramirez demands additional Border Patrol agents as his town grapples with an influx of migrants crossing illegally and high-speed chases involving human smugglers who have "a disregard for life."
Del Rio, Texas, Police Chief Frank Ramirez has issued an urgent plea for more Border Patrol agents to address the escalating challenges posed by illegal migrant crossings and high-speed chases involving human smugglers. Ramirez, who patrols a stretch of the border with Mexico, has witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of the surge in illegal immigration, which has overwhelmed his department's resources.
Border Town Police Chief Pleads for More Agents Amid Migrant Surges and Dangerous Chases
In an interview with Fox News, Ramirez described the smugglers as "ruthless" and "driven by greed." He said they often disregard the safety of migrants, packing them into vehicles and leading police on dangerous high-speed chases. Ramirez recalled a recent incident where a smuggler crashed a vehicle with 10 migrants inside, injuring several occupants.
"These smugglers have a blatant disregard for life," Ramirez said. "They don't care who they put in danger, as long as they get paid."
Border Town Police Chief Pleads for More Agents Amid Migrant Surges and Dangerous Chases
The influx of migrants has also strained Del Rio's police department, which is responsible for patrolling both the border and the city. Ramirez said his officers are being diverted from other essential duties to assist with migrant apprehensions, leaving the community less protected.
"We're being stretched thin," Ramirez said. "We need more agents to secure the border so that we can focus on keeping our city safe."
Border Town Police Chief Pleads for More Agents Amid Migrant Surges and Dangerous Chases
The Biden administration has faced criticism for its handling of the border crisis, with critics arguing that its lax immigration policies have encouraged illegal crossings. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of apprehensions at the southern border has skyrocketed in recent years, reaching a record high of over 2 million in fiscal 2023.
The crisis has also extended to the northern border with Canada, where apprehensions have surged in recent months. According to a report by CBS 19, the Swanton Border Sector, which covers all of Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire, has recorded more apprehensions in the first 10 months of fiscal 2024 than in the previous 13 combined.
Border Town Police Chief Pleads for More Agents Amid Migrant Surges and Dangerous Chases
Experts attribute the surge in apprehensions at the northern border to the diversion of resources from that area to the southern border. Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center, told Fox News that the Biden administration has pulled resources from the northern border to deal with the southern border, leaving it more vulnerable.
"The southern border always gets the attention and, therefore, gets the resources and the money, and the northern border then has vast areas that are just wide open," Ries said.
The crisis at the border has also raised concerns about national security. According to CBS 19, roughly 1,100 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) have been encountered at the northern border between 2021 and 2023. This represents more than half of the over 1,700 KSTs apprehended at the border nationwide.
Ries believes that the Biden administration's open-border policies have created an incentive for illegal crossings and attracted smugglers and traffickers. She argues that these policies have put a strain on the U.S. Border Patrol, which is tasked with securing the country's vast northern border.
"We've got [an] open border right now and the world knows they can get in," Ries said. "Smugglers adapt, traffickers adapt, and that's why we're seeing these numbers."
The Biden administration has defended its border policies, arguing that they are more humane and effective than the previous administration's approach. However, critics maintain that the administration's policies have failed to deter illegal immigration and have created a humanitarian crisis at the border.
As the border crisis continues to escalate, Del Rio Police Chief Frank Ramirez and other law enforcement officials are pleading for more resources to secure the border and protect their communities. They believe that the Biden administration must reassess its immigration policies and take meaningful steps to address the challenges posed by illegal immigration. Only then can the border be secured and the safety of communities along the border be restored.
