Border Patrol Catches 116 West Africans Invading U.S. Southern Border

First large group from Africa apprehended

DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Station apprehended a large group of 116 individuals Thursday.

“Large groups present a unique challenge for the men and women of the Del Rio Sector,” said Chief Raul Ortiz. “This large group from Africa further demonstrates the complexity and severity of the border security and humanitarian crisis at our Southwest border.”

Agents performing line watch operations apprehended the group after they illegally crossed the Rio Grande into the U.S. around 10:30 p.m.

This is the first large group apprehended in the Del Rio Sector and the first large group of people from Africa – including nationals from Angola, Cameroon and Congo - apprehended on the Southwest border this year.

Agents have encountered 182 large groups of more than 100 individuals across the Southwest border so far this fiscal year.

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector apprehended a large group of 116 individuals—from Angola, Cameroon and Congo—after they illegally crossed the Rio Grande River into the U.S. on Thursday: https://t.co/5VsJsD4nPF pic.twitter.com/HWGyVtzEC6

— CBP (@CBP) May 31, 2019

Agents have encountered 182 large groups (100+ individuals) across the SW border this fiscal year. This is the first large group apprehended in Del Rio Sector this FY and the first large group apprehended on the SW border this FY consisting entirely of African nationals.

— CBP (@CBP) May 31, 2019

Over 500,000 people have been apprehended on the SW border this FY.

TOTAL SW border apprehensions have surpassed every FY since 2009.

USBP has more people in custody than there are Agents on the SW border.

Apprehensions remain on track to surpass 1 million people this FY. pic.twitter.com/pMqiR4rU5B

— CBP (@CBP) May 31, 2019

1,036 individuals were apprehended by El Paso Sector Border Patrol as part of a large group yesterday morning. This is the largest group ever encountered illegally crossing the border. All the individuals were from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. https://t.co/bAIYh4XRFf pic.twitter.com/HybMuBvcTj

— CBP (@CBP) May 30, 2019

JUST IN: A federal judge in D.C. has rejected an effort by House Democrats to block Trump's use of emergency powers to reprogram military funds for his border wallhttps://t.co/h6uPwtq0xu

— Axios (@axios) June 3, 2019