Border Patrol agents arrested an undocumented immigrant on a terrorist watch list in Eagle Pass, Texas, the Post revealed, just before former President Donald Trump’s visit to the region.
Investigators arrested Carlos Obed Epesvedoya, 40, a Colombian national, on February 21 and said he was a “definite match” on a terrorist watch list, according to an internal memo provided exclusively to The Post. He made a decision.
The memo also said he was marked as a “group member” indicating ties to terrorist organizations, but did not specify which group he was suspected of having ties to. do not have.
After entering the United States illegally, Epesvedoya was first arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and then alerted Border Patrol to come pick him up, the report said.
The arrests were made as part of Operation Lone Star, in which Texas deploys National Guard and law enforcement forces to assist with border security.
President Trump visited Texas to receive briefings on border security from the governor. February 29th, Greg Abbott. He highlighted the murder of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student, allegedly at the hands of José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, which he called a “Biden immigration crime.” He emphasized the threat of things.
The same day, President Joe Biden traveled to Brownsville, Texas, to urge Congress to pass a funding bill to secure the southern border.
Texas DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez told the Post that Yepez-Bedoya’s arrest reinforces the need for states to take action to secure the border while the federal government is falling short.
“This highlights the need for border security measures, as the potential threats to both public safety and national security are clear and exploit security vulnerabilities.
“The federal government has failed to enact border security measures, and Texas continues to take unprecedented action to support border security through Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star,” Olivares said.
The number of people on terrorist watch lists attempting to enter the United States has exploded in recent years, and the number of border crossings in general has soared to record levels, with 2.4 million people were encountered at the western border.
During the four-month period from October to January 2023, Border Patrol arrested 59 people on terrorist watch list It is located on both the northern and southern borders.
Additionally, there were 172 arrests in fiscal year 2023 and 98 arrests in fiscal year 2022. Under the Trump administration, there were just 16 arrests in fiscal year 2021 and a total of 14 encounters with people on terrorist watch lists between fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2020, according to federal data. .
The arrests come as Texas hopes to implement its new border security law, SB4. The law would allow Texas law enforcement to arrest anyone who crosses the border illegally into Texas, with the option of jail time or voluntary departure. Although the law was passed, it has been appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and is still being challenged in court.
“There is no doubt that this historic legislation will deter and deter the entry of undocumented immigrants with violent criminal histories and those listed in terrorist screening databases. We will continue to use all means and strategies to protect the United States,” Olivares added.
The Border Patrol memo said Mr. Epes-Bedoya had been charged with illegal entry and was in the process of being expedited from the United States to Colombia.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
