Large Numbers of Migrants Encountered in Brownsville, Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Fort Brown Border Patrol (FTB) station agents encountered several migrant groups over the weekend that totaled over 420. Each of the groups was smuggled into the United States during the night or in the early morning hours. The smuggling attempts occurred in some of the coldest weather the Rio Grande Valley has experienced this year.

On Jan. 21, FTB agents encountered a group of 75 migrants in Brownsville, Texas. As agents were screening and preparing the group to be transported, three more groups totaling 88 migrants turned themselves in. The groups consisted of 163 migrants comprised of family members and adults from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Chile, and Honduras. The groups that turned themselves in to Border Patrol over the next few days were composed of similar demographics and were at the same location.

The following night at approximately 10:00 p.m., agents encountered another group of 77 migrants at the same location.

On Jan. 24, at approximately 2:00 a.m., agents encountered a group of 81 migrants.

Less than five hours later, a large group of nearly 100 migrants was encountered at the same location.

Within all these groups, there were 74 children ranging in age from nine months to 17 years old.