Agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) have apprehended 38 migrants, including Cubans, out of a group of 88 who illegally crossed the border with Mexico this Tuesday.
The large group consisted of families, single adults, and unaccompanied minors who illegally passed through private property in Maverick County, according to Lieutenant Chris Olivarez, spokesperson for DPS in the South Texas region, on social media platform X.
Out of the total migrants intercepted, authorities detained 38 single adults facing criminal charges for trespassing. These individuals hail from Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic, and were transported to the Val Verde Processing Center, Olivarez reported. The exact number of Cubans arrested was not specified.
A video released by the officer shows the moment when the undocumented individuals were spotted by authorities after illegally crossing the border between Mexico and the United States in the southern state county.
The operation is part of Texas's ongoing efforts to reduce illegal crossings in its border area through the controversial Operation Lone Star, launched in 2021 by Governor Greg Abbott. The Republican governor blames the policies of President Joe Biden’s administration for the massive influx and illegal entry of migrants through the Texas-Mexico border.
Last week, Biden signed a series of executive actions that will prevent irregular migrants who cross the southern border illegally from receiving asylum in the U.S. The President issued an order under sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) suspending the entry of non-citizens who illegally cross the border.
A day later, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) announced he was seeking an agreement with the U.S. government to ensure that migrants are not returned to Mexico following the implementation of Biden's measure. AMLO proposed a pact between the migrants' countries of origin and the United States to address the surge in asylum requests and deportations from the U.S.
FAQs on the Arrest of Cuban Migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border
Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the recent arrest of Cuban migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
What actions did the Texas DPS take against the migrants?
The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested 38 migrants, including Cubans, who illegally crossed the border with Mexico and charged them with criminal trespassing.
What is Operation Lone Star?
Operation Lone Star is a controversial initiative launched in 2021 by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to reduce illegal border crossings in the state.
What executive actions did President Biden sign regarding asylum seekers?
President Biden signed executive actions to prevent irregular migrants who cross the southern border illegally from receiving asylum in the U.S., citing sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).