Illegal immigrants from ‘special interest’ countries arrested at southern border

Dozens of illegal immigrants from countries linked to widespread terrorist activity have been arrested at the South Texas border over the past week, authorities said Friday.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers encountered the migrants in two large groups. The first of 230 illegal immigrants was apprehended on September 30.

Among that group were 27 people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and India, according to a DPS statement. They were turned over to federal authorities.

US officials arrest Peruvian gang leader wanted for nearly two dozen murders in home country: ‘significant threat’

“It is this type of activity, these attempted illegal crossings between ports of entry by people coming from areas that are hot spots for terrorist activity, that clearly highlights the concerns of Governor Abbott and the “State of Texas,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said. “These are not illegal immigrants seeking asylum. These are people trying to cross into the United States undetected and who might also try to harm us.”

Countries of particular interest are those with extensive terrorist activity.

Another 41 people from the first group were arrested for criminal trespass. They were citizens of Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

VANCE, WALZ SPAR ON IMMIGRATION DURING VP DEBATE: SUMMER AT THE BORDER “MORE THAN OUR BORDER Czar”

A second group of illegal immigrants was spotted Wednesday just north of the border town of Eagle Pass. Of the 135 people apprehended, 13 came from Türkiye and one from China, authorities said. In another arrest, authorities arrested Umar Farooq Ashraf, a South African citizen, on September 21.

He was part of a group of 15 illegal immigrants who crossed the Mexican border into Normandy, Texas.

Soldiers were alerted by the Terrorism Detection Center that Ashraf may be linked to a known or suspected terrorist. He remains in custody for trespassing.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its annual threat assessment this week, warning about migrants with ties to terrorism.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Over the next year, we expect that certain individuals with ties to terrorism and certain criminal actors will continue their efforts to exploit migration flows and the complex border security environment to enter the United States “, the assessment says. “Individuals with potential ties to terrorism continue to attempt to enter the country through the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, as well as through the immigration system,” the text continues.