News involving US Border Security and Immigration during the week of June 7 through June 13, 2026, was marked by a US military operation in Venezuela targeting the Tren de Aragua, controversies about US military attacks of smuggling boats, new wrinkles in immigration processing, and monumental legislative action funding ICE & the US Border Patrol.

Military Operations

• Tren de Aragua Leader Killed: Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known by his alias “Niño Guerrero,” the founder and top leader of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua, was killed in a joint U.S.-Venezuelan military strike on June 12, 2026. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the "swift and lethal kinetic strike" targeted a Tren de Aragua compound located in Venezuela’s southeastern state of Bolívar.

• Smuggling Boat Attacks Questioned: A June 10, 2026, exposé by The Intercept revealed internal Pentagon concerns that the first fatal strike against a small smuggling boat on September 2, 2025, likely killed innocent human trafficking victims rather than cartel members. While typical drug smuggling pangas carry one to four smugglers, the targeted vessel carried 11 passengers.

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Enforcement Operations

• Rapid Transfers: Investigative reports published during the week highlighted that the administration has increasingly utilized rapid 24-hour immigration detainee transfers. Tens of thousands of individuals are being moved directly into the federal judiciary’s 5th Circuit jurisdiction (Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi), where courts have favored strict mandatory detention policies.

• Field Interdictions: Local field operations continued to scale up under the newly active funding, yielding crackdowns by ICE alongside large drug interdictions by CBP officers at northern and southern ports of entry.

Legislative and Funding Action

• Secure America Act Signed: On June 10, 2026, President Trump officially signed the $70 billion Secure America Act into law. The bill narrowly cleared the House (214–212) following its narrow Senate approval.

• Funding Allocation: The enforcement package frontloads resources through the remainder of Trump’s term to sustain a target of 1 million deportations per year. It allocates $38 billion to ICE, $26 billion to CBP/Border Patrol, and $5 billion for Department of Homeland Security contingency funds.

• Sanctuary Penalties: A last-minute provision directs $350 million for ICE operations targeting states and cities deemed “non-cooperating” with federal immigration authorities. Concurrently, ICE leadership threatened unprecedented agent deployments in places like New York City following local non-cooperation laws.

  (Hat tip to fellow Substacker Austin Kocher for his excellent coverage of this)

Judicial Decisions and Asylum Processing

• Asylum Halt Reversed: Following a stern scolding by a federal judge, Trump administration officials agreed to resume affirmative asylum application processing.

• Travel Ban Litigation: The freeze was initially enacted under a 39-country travel ban, which the judge found unlawfully placed individuals on hold solely based on their country of origin. While U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agreed to comply, the Justice Department immediately appealed the order to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals on June 12.

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FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)

• FIFA Fakes & Forbidden Food

CBP’s World Cup Border Battle

• Gregory Bovino for President?

Ex-Border Patrol Agent’s Supporters Hopeful

• 330+ illegal aliens apprehended by US Coast Guard

5 human smuggling boats stopped at sea

(NOTE: We also published a story about the furor surrounding the verdict in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial in Texas, which I later removed because, upon reflection, it did not fit the immigration and border security subject matter I wish US Border News to focus on.)

COMING NEXT WEEK IN US BORDER NEWS:

Another state is joining Texas in assigning some of its state troopers to Border Security & Immigration Enforcement. We’ll bring you that story on Monday.

I am committed to delivering a weekly newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.

(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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US authorities have apprehended 338 illegal aliens off both US Coasts since late May 2026, while intercepting five human smuggling boats at sea.

The most dangerous human smuggling run, by far, that was interrupted by the US occurred in the Atlantic Ocean on May 31, 2026, when a Jacksonville, Florida-based US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) patrol plane spotted a dangerously overloaded boat and alerted the US Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard aircrew who relieved the CBP aircraft determined that the vessel had lost one engine, was slowly taking on water, and its occupants were bailing 3–5 gallons of water per minute.

The situation went from dangerous to dire when the boat lost all power, leaving all aboard adrift and desperately bailing out water to prevent the vessel from sinking.

The US Coast Guard notified the nearest authorities, the Turks and Caicos Islands, 65 miles away. The British Overseas Territory dispatched four boats from its police and naval forces on a rescue mission, which reached the distressed vessel.

They determined that there were 240 Haitian migrants aboard: 191 men, 44 women, and 5 children.

“These journeys are extremely hazardous, frequently involving severely overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels that are often taking on water and lack basic life-saving equipment. We encourage all individuals to pursue safe, legal, and orderly avenues for migration rather than risking their lives at sea.” - Lt. Chelsea Garcia, US Coast Guard

The passengers and crew were taken to the Turks and Caicos Islands and did not reach U.S. soil.

Also in late May 2026 the US Coast Guard reported intercepting 36 illegal aliens from Mexico aboard a 30-foot cuddy cabin vessel 22 miles offshore of San Diego in the Pacific Ocean. All aboard (including the smuggler piloting the boat) were detained and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents ashore in California.

And on June 7, 2026, the US Coast Guard apprehended another 41 illegal aliens in two separate incidents off both US Coasts.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez intercepted 40 people aboard a grossly overloaded 20 to 30-foot makeshift vessel, first spotted by CBP aircraft off Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. Aboard were found to be 36 people from the Dominican Republic, three from Haiti, and one from Uzbekistan.

32 of the Dominicans aboard were transferred to the custody of a Dominican Republic naval vessel in the area, while the remainder of those aboard were transported by the US Coast Guard to Puerto Rico, where they were turned over to US Immigration Authorities.

On the same day, off the northernmost point of California’s Coronado Island, the US Coast Guard apprehended another nine illegal aliens, all from Mexico, after a CBP aircrew spotted a rendezvous between a small panga smuggling boat and a larger 24-foot vessel outfitted with fishing poles in an attempt to disguise it as a pleasure craft.

The smuggling vessel and all nine aliens found aboard were escorted to the nearby San Diego harbor. The illegal aliens were placed under arrest and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol personnel at Ballast Point, California.

UPDATE: On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Coast Guard announced the seizure of another human smuggling boat near San Diego with 17 illegal aliens aboard. A Sacramento-based Coast Guard patrol plane notified Sector San Diego that they had spotted a small “panga” boat 10 miles west of Sunset Cliffs.

The Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour intercepted the smuggling boat and found 16 Mexicans aboard, as well as an unaccompanied minor from Guatemala.

They were turned over to the US Border Patrol for processing.

Are you surprised by the large number of illegal aliens the US Coast Guard has apprehended at sea recently?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Officers are up against a flood of counterfeit World Cup merchandise and forbidden foreign food arriving at US Border Ports of Entry. As of last week, the CBP has reported more than 900 seizures of knock-off World Cup clothing & other merchandise worth more than $13 million dollars.

Recent seizures of fake FIFA gear include a large shipment of knock-offs arriving in Los Angeles, worth around $850,000, that included counterfeit Nike, Adidas, FC Barcelona, and Argentine Football Association clothing.

At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, CBP Officers confiscated several large shipments of fake FIFA soccer jerseys and shorts arriving from Mexico & China. The DFW CBP Officers said they identified the merch as fakes right away due to their obvious poor quality.

And, on July 12, 2026, the CBP announced that its agents in Newark had seized 183 fake soccer jerseys from the luggage of a US citizen arriving from Peru. The CBP determined that the man who brought them into the country planned to sell them during the World Cup games for a few dollars apiece to make what he thought would be an easy and quick profit.

CBP Agents are also encountering more foreign travelers arriving at US Airports for the games, with food and other products forbidden from entry into America by the US Agriculture Department.

On May 28, 2026, CBP agriculture detector dog Valen, a 3-year-old female Beagle, alerted to the baggage of a traveler from Vietnam arriving in Washington, DC. During a secondary examination, CBP agriculture specialists discovered over 13 pounds of pork products and nearly 16 pounds of fruits and vegetables.

And this month, CBP Agriculture Canine Rubee detected a large load of undeclared pork and bananas in luggage arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Vietnam.

Vietnam has experienced recent outbreaks of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that could significantly impact the U.S. pork industry. The U.S. is the world’s third-largest pork producer and exports pork products to over 100 countries.

The fruits and vegetables in those travelers’ baggage were also seized and destroyed to prevent the entry of invasive insect pests that could impact our nation’s crop industries.

On June 2, 2026, CBP agriculture specialists discovered 15 pounds of canned ruminant meat within multiple cans in the baggage of a Tunisian traveler arriving at DC’s Dulles International Airport who declared that he had lamb and beef during a secondary examination. The traveler stated that his mother cooked and canned the ruminant meat before he traveled to the U.S.

Tunisia has experienced episodes of Lumpy Skin Disease, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, and Bovine Tuberculosis, all highly contagious viral diseases of livestock.

CBP Agents are also increasingly seizing forbidden “African Bushmeat” being brought into the US by arriving International passengers. Recent large seizures have been reported by CBP Officers in Minneapolis (who seized bushmeat and fish from Ghana) and CBP Officers in Chicago (who seized bushmeat, fish, & forbidden fruit arriving from Liberia).

CBP Officers each day are averaging the seizure of 4,691 prohibited plant, meat, animal byproducts, and soil, and the interception of 222 insect pests at U.S. ports of entry.

Are you surprised at all the counterfeit gear and forbidden food being brought into the US from abroad during the World Cup games?

Share your opinion in a comment to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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Supporters of Gregory K. Bovino - who has been trolling the Trump Administration on social media since he left the US Border Patrol - have begun an effort to draft him for a 2028 run for President. Bovino has signaled his openness to that to reporters for both NewsNation and The Daily Beast, and has since further explained his thinking in post on x.com.

Bovino led large-scale urban immigration enforcement operations that sparked protests in both Los Angeles and Chicago beginning in mid-2025. By the time he rolled into Minneapolis in December of that year for “Operation Metro Surge” (and the protests it generated there), he had been named “Commander-at-Large” of the Border Patrol tactical operations.

In January 2027, federal agents under his command assigned to “Operation Metro Surge” shot and killed U.S. citizens Renée Good & Alex Pretti. Their deaths caused overall public approval of the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement operations to plummet, with polling showing nearly two-thirds of Americans felt U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had "gone too far."

They also gave President Trump the highest disapproval ratings since just after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Two days after Pretti’s killing, Bovino returned to the El Centro, California, Border Patrol Sector, where he had previously served as Chief, and retired from the agency two months later, ending nearly 30 years of service.

Markwayne Mullin, who has since taken over as head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since Bovino left, has expressed a desire to conduct immigration enforcement in a “more quiet way,” which Bovino objects to (and brings us to the movement to draft him to run for president).

The effort was first reported by The Daily Beast on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The publication described the group behind the “Draft Bovino” campaign as “political outcasts from MAGA’s far right.”

They launched a website whose copyright describes it as a “grassroots effort formed by Americans starving for true American sovereignty not affiliated with any candidate or candidates (sic) committee. Purely a volunteer effort hoping to draft Bovino for President in 2028.”

The Daily Beast published the following statement from Bovino, which they characterized as “a thinly veiled jab at Donald Trump, whom he has accused of backing away from aggressive immigration enforcement”:

“If I were President, I’d lead that [deportation] effort from the front and be on the front lines from time to time.” - Gregory K. Bovino

He has since posted a lengthy statement on x.com:

“My one and only priority is deporting the 106 million illegals who are here. That’s it.

The grassroots support I’m seeing tells me the polls are completely wrong…

If I’m getting this much energy, it’s probably because 90% of the country wants mass deportations and the media just isn’t asking the right questions.

My commitment is simple, liberate America from this invasion and restore our quality of life.

If running for President is what it takes to actually get it done, then all options are on the table.” - Gregory K. Bovino

And, while it is too early to guess who might also throw their hats in the ring for the 2028 Presidential election, Bovino is sparring online with members of the Trump Administration, like DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin:

In addition to trolling DHS Secretary Mullin, he is also taking on White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for not shutting down protests that have been occurring outside a New Jersey immigration detention center since late May:

Meanwhile, Bovino is traveling like he’s already on the campaign trail.

He recently returned from Europe, where he headlined an international "Remigration Summit" in Portugal. At the event, he spoke to European and American far-right activists to advocate for mass deportations and to express alignment between U.S. and European right-wing movements.

What are your thoughts about the campaign to draft Bovino as a 2028 candidate for US President?

Share your opinion in a comment to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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During the week of May 31 to June 6, 2026, U.S. immigration and Border Security News included ongoing leadership changes at federal law enforcement agencies, a major legislative breakthrough in Congress, and a significant federal court ruling that rolled back a Trump administration policy.

New Leadership for US Border Patrol & Immigration & Customs Enforcement

• New Border Patrol Chief: As June began, US Border Patrol Agents found themselves under the command of a new permanent Border Patrol Chief for the first time since the previous Chief (Mike Banks) left the agency on May 14, 2026. President Trump named a 26-year veteran of the Border Patrol, Rosario “Pete” Vasquez, to that position.

• New ICE Acting Director: Also, David Venturella officially took over as acting director of US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), replacing Todd Lyons. Venturella previously served as a senior executive for the GEO Group, one of the nation’s largest private contractors operating immigration detention centers. Senator Elizabeth Warren sharply criticized his appointment, citing Venturella’s “decades-long trip in and out of the revolving door between ICE and the private prison industry.”

Senate Passes $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Package

• Budget Reconciliation Breakthrough: In a narrow 52-47 vote early Friday morning, June 5, 2026, the U.S. Senate passed a massive $70 billion funding bill. Republicans used the budget reconciliation process to bypass the standard 60-vote threshold to pass the measure with a simple majority.

• Targeted Allocations: The bill directs $38.6 billion directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $26 billion to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and $5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), locking in their budgets through the end of President Trump’s term.

• Controversial Provision Unaffected: Republicans rejected efforts to restrict or eliminate an attached $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” designed to compensate allies of President Trump who allege government mistreatment by federal prosecutors and law-enforcement agents.

Detainee Standoff and State Pushback

• New Jersey Standoff: On June 7, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill deployed the New Jersey State Police outside the Delaney Hall migrant detention center. The deployment followed clashes between protestors and federal officials who threatened to flood the area with armed tactical agents, escalating friction between federal enforcement priorities and local authorities.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Visa Restriction Policy

• Legal Rollback: On June 5, 2026, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. struck down a highly restrictive Trump administration immigration policy that had placed nationals from 39 countries into legal limbo.

• Context and Criticism: The policy was enacted by the administration following the fatal shootings of two National Guard members, causing severe bottlenecks and pauses for targeted immigrants attempting to enter or stay in the U.S. The judge sharply rebuked the administration, accusing it of flatly ignoring the law.

Green Card Rules and Vetting Escalations

• Tightened Green Card Processing: As of June, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) required employment-based applicants to use the strict “Final Action Dates” chart rather than the more lenient “Dates for Filing” chart. This change severely limits the number of applicants who can finalize their green cards because demand outstrips visa limits.

• New Asylum Office: To handle mounting caseloads under tighter adjudication rules, USCIS opened a centralized asylum office in San Antonio on June 5, 2026.

FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)

Texas: $2 Million+ Cartel Cash Seized by Cops

Feds & Texas cops hit Mexican Cartels hard

Cops Prevent Texas Border Tragedy

39 migrants rescued from flaming trailer

I am committed to delivering a weekly newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.

(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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Quick action by US Border Patrol Agents and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrolmen saved the lives of 39 illegal aliens locked inside a trailer being hauled by human smugglers driving a semi truck, which burst into flames at the end of a harrowing chase in South Texas on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

This emergency began at 8:36 PM, when a K9 at the Encino Border Patrol Checkpoint on US Highway 287 in Brooks County took an interest in the trailer. When Border Patrol Agents directed the truck driver to an inspection area, he hit the gas and pulled away from the checkpoint instead.

Border Patrol vehicles pursued the truck north to Falfurrias, Texas, where the driver made a U-Turn back toward the Mexican border, at which time Texas DPS officers continued the pursuit.

The DPS officers deflated the truck’s tires, but the driver continued as sparks flew from the truck’s rims. Those sparks eventually caught the truck afire, forcing the driver to stop. As officers arrested the pair found inside the cab of the burning truck, other officers discovered the trailer was locked and realized people were inside.

Fortunately, they were able to open the locked trailer and rescue the 39 illegal aliens inside before the trailer was engulfed in flames.

Although this method of human smuggling is demonstrably dangerous, and sometimes deadly, there is no shortage of truck drivers willing to make these smuggling runs, or Mexican cartels willing to risk so many lives at once because it is so profitable.

This week, the Texas DPS reported that, for the second time in less than 10 days, their officers apprehended 20 illegal immigrants being concealed inside a truck tractor during an Operation Lone Star traffic stop in Webb County. That’s 40 illegal immigrants from just two traffic stops.

A few weeks earlier, Border Patrol Agents in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas busted another trucker hauling a “load” of 24 illegal aliens locked in a trailer being hauled north from the Texas Border with Mexico.

Are you surprised so many truckers are willing to risk arrest, and so many lives on these dangerous cartel human smuggling runs through South Texas?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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The past 30 days have been costly for Mexican cartels whose smugglers attempted to return profits from their drug operations to them from Texas. Law enforcement officers in the Lone Star State seized $2,439,000 in cartel cash during a series of raids, traffic stops, and vehicle searches stretching from Houston all the way south to the Texas-Mexico border.

Here’s a rundown of those big busts:

HOUSTON: $1 Million +

On May 28, 2026, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that its agents, along with officers from the Harris County Constable Precinct 2 Office, had seized “over a million dollars in bulk cash and assets, 18 firearms, and multiple pounds of synthetic marijuana” from a Houston home during a recent drug raid.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY: $570,000

On June 2, 2026, the US Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector announced that its agents had seized $570,000 in cash before a “money mule” could smuggle it south of the border to return profits (likely from US drug sales) to one of the cartels.

LAREDO: $504,000

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) stopped more than $500,000 in cartel cash from being smuggled back to Mexico during two separate seizures in Laredo last month.

On May 15, 2026, the CBP announced its agents had discovered more than $272,000 in cash hidden beneath the floorboards of a vehicle a smuggler was attempting to drive across an international bridge in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Three days later, the CBP announced its agents had seized another $272,000 in cartel cash hidden inside another vehicle a Mexican citizen was attempting to drive into Nuevo Laredo from Laredo, Texas.

KLEBERG COUNTY: $365,000

Also, last month, the Kleberg County-based South Texas Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force seized $365,000 cash from two different cartel couriers during traffic stops of southbound vehicles on US Highway 77 about 125 miles north of the Texas-Mexico border.

On May 6, 2026, South Texas Task Force Agents found 10 vacuum-sealed, duct-taped bundles concealed within the rear seat and back wall of a vehicle containing $227,398 in cash. The driver (who was arrested) told officers he was headed from Houston to Matamoros, Mexico, when they first stopped him.

And on May 26, 2026, a South Texas Task Force K9 alerted a Task Force Special Agent to take a closer look at another southbound vehicle that had been pulled over for a traffic stop. That led to the discovery of two vacuum-sealed bundles containing $138,000 cash, along with approximately one pound of marijuana concealed inside a cooler.

Two men from Harlingen, Texas (one of them a confirmed Tango Blast/Valluco gang member currently on probation) were arrested.

If this is how much money Texas cops have seized in just 30 days, what do you think is the actual amount of cartel cash flowing into Mexico each month?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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During the week of May 23–30, 2026, the Trump Administration faced growing criticism over targeting airports serving “sanctuary cities,” launched aggressive new measures targeting legal immigration channels, and stepped up federal prosecution at the US Southern Border.

“Sanctuary City” Airport Penalties

• CBP Withdrawal Threats: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin advanced formal plans to halt immigration and customs processing at major international airports located in sanctuary jurisdictions.

• Target Hubs: The plan targets high-traffic hubs including New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Seattle (SEA), and San Francisco (SFO).

• Industry Pushback: The U.S. Travel Association and airline industry leaders issued warnings that removing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers would disrupt international air travel and commerce, inflicting devastating financial consequences on local economies.

Tightened Asylum Rules and Enforcement Vetting

• Asylum Filing Fees: On May 29, DHS and USCIS implemented new, stricter rules for Form I-589 asylum applications, introducing a recurring $102 annual fee for each year a case remains unresolved to account for inflation.

• Targeting Legal Infrastructure: On May 26, DHS directed ICE to aggressively pursue administrative fraud cases directly against immigration attorneys accused of submitting false asylum claims.

• Judicial Rulings: The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration, upholding work-related speech restrictions placed on federal immigration judges.

Border Statistics and Operations

• Low Apprehensions: According to updates from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, Southwest Border apprehensions have hovered at their lowest levels in 55 years due to stricter enforcement and U.S.–Mexico coordination.

• Federal Prosecutions: Regional U.S. Attorney’s Offices heavily pushed criminal charges. In the District of Arizona alone, 331 individuals faced immigration-related criminal charges during the week for illegal entry, re-entry, and alien smuggling.

• Military Zone Offenses: In New Mexico, federal prosecutors charged 129 individuals with illegal entry specifically tied to violations inside the newly established National Defense Area border zone.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Health Orders

• Lebanon TPS Extension: Because DHS missed its statutory 60-day review deadline amidst internal leadership transitions, TPS designation for Lebanon was automatically extended for six months, protecting beneficiaries through November 27, 2026.

• Ebola Travel Restrictions: On May 28, the CDC and CBP instituted enhanced public health screenings and restricted designated arrival airports for U.S. citizens, green card holders, and foreign nationals who recently traveled through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.

FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)

• 200+ illegal aliens apprehended off US coasts

6 large human smuggling attempts thwarted

• Texas Border: Camouflaged Chinese Caught

By State & Federal Officers

I am committed to delivering a weekly newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.

(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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Six Chinese citizens were apprehended in Texas, north of the Rio Grande, by US Border Patrol Agents on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. They were among a group of twelve illegal aliens caught crossing a private ranch near the Mexican border.

Earlier that day, Border Patrol Agents, some on horseback, assisted by a DPS K9 chased and apprehended a half dozen more illegal aliens in Maverick County.

The day before, DPS Officers arrested a Cuban man attempting to smuggle six more illegal immigrants following a high-speed chase through that same Texas border county.

And, in case you are wondering, US Federal Authorities aren’t just encountering Chinese men trying to illegally enter the US in Texas.

Four days before the Border Patrol apprehended those six Chinese illegal aliens in Maverick County, the US Coast Guard arrested four Chinese men among a group of eight stowaways that also included illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic on a barge entering San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended approximately 3,900 Chinese citizens attempting to illegally enter the US during the last fiscal year. This represents a massive 75%-85% decline from peak volumes in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years.

In 2024, the Border Patrol’s encounters of Chinese citizens who illegally entered the US reached 38,200 at the U.S.-Mexico border and 12,400 at the U.S.-Canada border.

Are you surprised by the number of Chinese citizens attempting to illegally enter the United States?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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(Note: this article has been updated to add the apprehension of an additional 36 migrants this week)

US authorities have apprehended 206 illegal aliens at sea off both US Coasts in recent weeks, while interrupting a half-dozen large-scale human smuggling attempts.

The largest of these occurred on May 9, 2026, when US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) intercepted a small boat dangerously overloaded with 64 illegal aliens off Puerto Rico.

When the man piloting the vessel refused to stop, CBP Officers disabled it by firing shots into its outboard motors.

Once the boat was dead in the water, those aboard surrendered without further resistance. CBP Officers determined that 58 were from the Dominican Republic and six were from Haiti. All aboard were arrested and transported to Mayaguez, where US Border Patrol Agents took custody of them for removal proceedings.

A week earlier, another human smuggling attempt off Puerto Rico came close to a deadly ending. A similar small boat overloaded with 42 illegal aliens was spotted approaching the hazardous and rocky shoreline of Aguadilla by Puerto Rican Police Officers.

Fearing an impending tragedy, the police officers requested urgent assistance, which prompted a response by US Coast Guard vessels and aircraft. US Border Patrol Agents also raced to the scene and determined that all aboard the boat made it ashore.

However, due to the difficult mountainous and rocky terrain, two migrants were unresponsive, another sustained a leg injury, and two others also required medical treatment. A Coast Guard helicopter crew quickly performed a successful Medevac rescue of a migrant found to be in serious condition, while Puerto Rican Emergency Medical Services Ambulance Crews transported the other injured migrants to hospitals by ground.

All of the illegal aliens, who were found to be 33 citizens of the Dominican Republic, eight Haitians, and one Ecuadorian, were taken into custody by the US Border Patrol.

A few days later, the CBP intercepted 25 migrants, all from the Bahamas, at sea east of Miami.

Human smugglers have also recently been caught attempting to land large groups on the US West Coast.

On May 1, 2026, the CBP reported the arrests of 29 illegal aliens from Mexico found aboard a “panga” intercepted in the Pacific Ocean near Long Beach, California. CBP Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport’s Strike Team and the CBP Air Marine Operations (AMO) Long Beach Marine Unit jointly participated in that mission.

And, on Friday, May 22, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Haddock interrupted an attempt to smuggle ten illegal aliens from Mexico aboard a 20-foot cabin cruiser 27 miles east of San Clemente Island. U.S. Border Patrol agents took custody of the group at Ballast Point, California.

Finally, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Coast Guard reported the apprehension of 36 suspected aliens aboard a 30-foot cuddy cabin vessel 22 miles offshore from San Diego, which was stopped and boarded by the crew of the cutter John McCormick. All aboard were found to be Mexican citizens.

Are you surprised by the number of large-scale human smuggling attempts at sea that US authorities have thwarted recently?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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During the week of May 17–23, 2026, the Trump administration rolled out sweeping new restrictions shifting its focus toward legal immigration, while congressional efforts to pass a multi-billion-dollar immigration enforcement bill stalled.

Major Shift in Green Card Policy

On Friday, May 22, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a major policy memorandum that completely upended a 60-year-old framework.

• Mandatory Consular Processing: Foreigners temporarily in the U.S. (including students, tourists, and temporary workers) who want to apply for a green card must now leave the country and apply through a State Department consulate abroad.

• Exceptional Circumstances Only: In-country “adjustment of status” will now only be granted under extraordinary, case-by-case circumstances.

• Impact: Policy analysts warn that this could force hundreds of thousands of people out of the country for lengthy processing periods, particularly nationals from the 39 countries currently subject to the administration’s expanded travel ban.

Stalled $70 Billion Enforcement Bill in Congress

Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington on Thursday, May 21, without voting on a roughly $70 billion budget package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.

• The Impasse: Progress halted due to a bitter intra-party dispute over a White House-backed $1.776 billion settlement fund intended to compensate Trump allies who claim they were politically prosecuted. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis notably slammed the fund as “stupid on stilts”.

• Religious Backlash: Concurrently, a group of U.S. Catholic bishops from the southwest border sent a formal letter to Congress expressing “grave concern” over the $72 billion funding push, citing humanitarian anxieties regarding rapid deportations and mass detentions.

Threats to Sanctuary City Airports

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin triggered widespread alarm within the travel industry after reiterating a proposal to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from major international airports located in sanctuary cities.

• Targeted Cities: The plan would reduce customs staffing at critical international transit hubs like New York (JFK and Newark) and Portland.

• Widespread Condemnation: The U.S. Travel Association and major commercial airlines fiercely condemned the idea, warning it would cause immense economic fallout and travel chaos for American citizens and international visitors alike.

Stricter Domestic Rules and Judicial Overhaul

• Immigration Court Expansion: On May 21, the Department of Justice (DOJ) onboarded over 80 new immigration judges—the largest single class in agency history—to expedite the backlog of 3.5 million pending cases and accelerate removal orders.

• Signature Scrutiny & Delays: USCIS updated its rules to allow immediate denial of permanent residency and citizenship applications if signatures on the paperwork are not identical. This, combined with mandatory FBI background re-checks, has pushed citizenship processing wait times from 3–4 months to nearly a year.

• ICE Overstay Warnings: ICE issued a stark warning that entering the country legally on a visa provides no protection against detention or deportation if individuals violate their terms of stay, even with an active or pending affirmative asylum petition.

• Detention Center Pushback: In Rochester, New York, federal officials confirmed they are moving forward with a controversial new downtown immigration detention center (the Keating Building project) despite fierce opposition from local leaders, including Representative Joe Morelle and Senator Chuck Schumer.

SINCE OUR STORY:

(Updates on stories previously covered by US Border News)

Large Drug Busts Continue in Texas

Following our story this week about large busts of cartel drugs in Texas, authorities there reported four more significant seizures:

• $1.2 million worth of cocaine intercepted in Pharr, Texas

• $692 thousand worth of cocaine seized in Progreso, Texas

• 30+ kilos of cocaine seized in the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector

• 40 pounds of cocaine seized at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint

Investigation Into Cartel Ties to Mexican Government Underway

Following our story late last month about the U.S. indictments of the Governor of the Mexican State of SInaloa and nine other current and former Mexican officials on drug trafficking and weapons charges for their alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, comes news this week of reaction from Mexican authorities:

• The elected Governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, announced he has been summoned for questioning by the Mexican Attorney General.

• The Mexican Attorney General’s Office confirmed that and announced the nine others indicted by the US have also been summoned for questioning.

• These actions come one day after US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin met with President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico CIty. The US is requesting the Mexican government to arrest the ten suspects and turn them over to US authorities for trial.

FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)

• Mexican Police Guarding US Consulate Ambushed

Across the border from Brownsville

Cartels lose large drug loads to Texas cops

Border busts add up

• Feds fight forbidden food at US Borders

Aided by a “Beagle Brigade”

I am committed to delivering a weekly newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.

(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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Authorities in Texas have racked up some large drug busts this month and late last month at the cartels’ expense. Here’s a look at some of the largest:

METHAMPHETAMINE BUSTS:

In South Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge took a closer look inside a semi-trailer full of produce that arrived at the US border from Reynosa, Mexico, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and found that it was loaded with more than just heads of lettuce.

The shipment was used to hide 307 packages of methamphetamine weighing more than 1,644.64 pounds with a street value of almost $15 million.

A joint investigation by the Houston Police Department (HPD), Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) paid off in a big way on May 7, 2026.

It led to HPD discovering 396 kilos of methamphetamine hidden beneath the floor of a semi-truck trailer and the arrest of an armed suspect. Another 73 kilos of methamphetamine and cash were also found at the suspect’s residence.

Seven days later, those same four local and federal agencies reported another significant methamphetamine bust in Houston, when the arrest of a wanted person also resulted in the seizure of 38 kilos of meth, 7 handguns, and 1 rifle.

The cartel drug dealer’s elaborate cowboy hat-wearing “Santa Muerte” shrine failed to protect him this time.

COCAINE BUSTS:

The cartels’ cocaine smuggling operations have also taken some big hits in Texas this month.

May 1, 2026, was a cartel cocaine smuggler’s unlucky day at the Hidalgo International Bridge when a CBP K9 took an interest in the minivan he was driving. When the dog’s handler and other CBP officers searched the 48-year-old Mexican citizen’s vehicle, they learned he was attempting to bring more than 20 kilos of cocaine with a street value of more than $600 thousand into the country.

The drugs and the car were seized. The driver was placed under arrest.

Another cartel cocaine smuggler had a bad day just up the road from the McAllen-Hidalgo, Texas, International Bridge (this time at the hands of the US Border Patrol), three weeks later.

Agents found almost 19 kilos of cocaine in his vehicle when it was inspected at the Falfurrias checkpoint.

MARIJUANA BUSTS:

The Mexican cartels still move large amounts of marijuana into the U.S. - as evidenced by some recent busts in the Lone Star State.

The largest recent marijuana bust happened late last month in Starr County, Texas. A state trooper assigned to the Texas “Operation Lone Star” border security mission soon found himself in a high-speed chase while attempting a traffic stop just north of the Rio Grande.

When the truck he was chasing wrecked out, it became clear why the driver (who was arrested) tried to flee. Officers found 40 bundles of marijuana in the pick-up truck’s bed. The pot weighed in at 460 pounds, with a street value of $115,000.

US Border Patrol Agents assigned to far West Texas took down another notable load of marijuana earlier this month - and once again it was the sensitive nose of a checkpoint K9 that did the smuggler in. The dog showed an interest not just in the smuggler’s vehicle, but in two tires in the car’s trunk.

Sure enough, when agents took a closer look at those tires, they found 44 pounds of marijuana (valued at over $35,000).

Are you surprised by the different methods cartel smugglers try to conceal their drug loads?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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A taste for forbidden foreign fruit can be costly, as one person arriving in Laredo, Texas, from Mexico found out this week. US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Officers discovered the traveler was trying to smuggle a huge haul of Mexican fruit into the country, consisting of:

• 65 kilos of Mangos

• 45 kilos of Plums

• 3.2 kilos of Guamúchil Fruit

• 6 live plants

That resulted in a whopping $1,000 fine being assessed on the spot.

(And, if you are wondering what Guamúchil Fruit is, know that it is a seed pod containing tart & tangy pulp of a tree that grows in a majority of Mexican states.)

You should also know that Guamúchil, like almost all fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, cannot be brought into the USA from Mexico. They are strictly prohibited at US ports of entry to prevent the spread of invasive pests and agricultural diseases.

All travelers entering the United States are required to declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.

Those who try to circumvent this policy must run the gauntlet posed by the CBP’s beagle brigade (and the beagles are VERY good at their jobs). Take the photo of CBP K9 “Ears” below, who sniffed out yet more forbidden fruit arriving from Mexico earlier this month, this time at the International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The dog alerted CBP Officers to check the luggage of a passenger arriving from Mexico City. When they did, they found undeclared pork, nance, cacti, and wood, resulting in a $300 fine against another traveler.

In Chicago, CBP K9 “Thena” (shown below) alerted to another piece of luggage arriving from Mexico.

When CBP officers looked inside, they found undeclared madras thorn, passion fruit, mamey, plums, mangoes, coriander, & pork ham sandwiches.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, it was K9 “Oliver” (pictured below) that tripped up a traveler attempting to smuggle undeclared raw fruit from Guatemala into the US.

Inside the arriving passenger’s luggage, CBP officers found raw, undeclared Guatemalan mangoes and mombins.

Would-be smugglers of forbidden food have more than just the CBP’s capable K9’s to contend with. On May 9, 2026, a technician x-raying luggage from International flights arriving at Chicago O’Hare summoned CBP Officers after spotting something that definitely didn’t belong in a suitcase: bones!

Inside the luggage arriving from Amsterdam, CBP officers were surprised to find almost 3 kilos of African “bushmeat,” which consisted of grasscutter (a large rodent) & fish.

The passenger, it turns out, originally checked the luggage in Ghana before connecting in Amsterdam and flying on to Atlanta. It also turns out this passenger actually declared what was inside the luggage (not realizing it was prohibited).

The bushmeat was seized and destroyed. The arriving passenger was sent on his way.

Are you surprised by the forbidden food some travelers attempt to bring into the US?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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Mexican Federal Police Officers assigned to guard the US Consulate in Matamoros (which is across the Rio Grande from Brownsville) were ambushed away from that building on Sunday, May 17, 2016. One officer was killed. One other was wounded.

The officers were reportedly lured to the ambush spot by a vehicle they were pursuing. The reason for the pursuit is a bit murky, though some Mexican media reports indicate the driver of that vehicle may have deliberately struck their truck, then fled to prompt them to initiate the chase.

Mexican authorities aren’t releasing much information about the ambush or the investigation. The Gulf Cartel (CDG) is widely understood to control most criminal activity in Matamoros, but has not claimed credit for the fatal ambush.

Matamoros Consul General Mary Virginia Hantsch issued a statement in Spanish stating that the US government was “deeply saddened” over the death of the officer who provided security to the consulate.

“Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues,” she said.

The US State Department has issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory for US residents to Tamaulipas (the state where Matamoros is located) due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.

It has also issued the following restrictions to the consulate staff in Matamoros:

• Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas in Matamoros, including the neighborhoods of Jardin and Rio, and the area of the city as defined by:

  • The Rio Grande River to the north

  • Avenida de Las Americas from the Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge south to Calle Hidalgo and west to Calle Diez

  • Diagonal Cuauhtemoc east to Avenida Canales continuing east to Calle Primera

  • Avenida Lauro Villar from Calle Primera east to Calle Republica de Cuba

  • Calle Republica de Cuba from Avenida Lauro Villar north to Avenida Tamaulipas

  • Other permitted areas in Matamoros include the shops and restaurants along any of these routes: Calle Sexta to the Holiday Inn, Plaza Fiesta, the Soriana Market at Calle Primera and Avenida Canales, the Soriana Market at Veteran’s Bridge via Avenida Lauro Villa or Avenida Division del Norte, and the HEB on Avenida Lauro Villar

• An armored vehicle is required for all travel to and from the Matamoros Airport and all travel to Reynosa.

• U.S. government employees have a curfew of midnight to 6am in Matamoros.

Are you concerned about the security of the US Consulate in Matamoros following the ambush of Mexican officers assigned to guard it?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:

During the week of May 10–16, 2026, U.S. immigration and border security news was dominated by aggressive new law-enforcement and prosecution tactics, an arrest in the deaths of six illegal aliens in a Laredo rail yard, and the abrupt resignation of U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks.

1. Leadership Shakeups

• Michael Banks Resigns: Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced his resignation on Thursday, May 14, stating in an interview that he felt he had “got the ship back on course.” His departure is the latest in a series of shake-ups within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), beginning with Kristi Noem's replacement by Markwayne Mullin as head of that agency.

• Ombudsman Office Closed: Reports this week confirmed that DHS formally closed the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman earlier in the month. This office was responsible for investigating complaints of misconduct and inhumane conditions within detention centers, and its closure removes a key internal oversight mechanism.

2. New Enforcement Units & Tactics

• Denaturalization Push: USCIS and the DOJ announced on May 14 that they have filed denaturalization actions against 12 individuals, accusing them of concealing serious crimes—such as war crimes and sex offenses—to obtain citizenship.

• Zero-Release Milestone: On May 15, the Department of Homeland Security and CBP announced their 12th consecutive month of a strict zero-releases policy at the southwest border, attributing historically low migrant crossings to the directive.

• Targeting Green Card Holders: Also on May 15, reports emerged of a new DHS unit dedicated to investigating green card holders for potential fraud or “improper granting” of status. This move signals a shift from strictly border enforcement to scrutinizing settled legal immigrants.

3. Cartel Prosecutions & Historic Terrorism Charges

• High-Ranking CJNG Leader Charged: On May 14, the DOJ unsealed a superseding indictment against Audias Flores Silva (known as “Jardinero”), a top leader within the CJNG. He faces federal charges of drug trafficking conspiracy, money laundering, and firearm offenses.

• Sinaloa Security Chief Surrenders: On May 15, the former security chief of Sinaloa became the first of 10 recently indicted Mexican officials and Morena party politicians to fly to the U.S. and surrender to federal authorities. The group is accused of taking millions in bribes from El Chapo’s sons to protect drug corridors.

• First Cartel Terrorism Indictment: On May 16, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a historic indictment against Maria Del Rosario Navarro Sanchez, a known operator for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Following the U.S. designation of Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Navarro Sanchez became the first operative to face material support of terrorism charges, alongside gun trafficking, alien smuggling, and cash conspiracy.

4. Border Security Shifts & Bilateral Friction

• DOJ Weaponizes Terrorism Statutes: On May 15, the Department of Justice officially instructed federal prosecutors to begin building drug trafficking cases against corrupt Mexican officials using terrorism statutes.

• Extradition Standoff Escalates: Bilateral relations grew strained as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded “irrefutable evidence” from Washington before executing the outstanding extradition warrants for Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and other politicians.

5. Massive Surge in Border & Fugitive Arrests

• Record Immigration Prosecutions: Federal offices reported an unprecedented surge in enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas filed nearly 300 new immigration and smuggling cases in a single week, while New Mexico reported over 9,000 cases filed year-to-date.

• Fugitive Takedowns: During “Police Week” (May 10–16), ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) executed dozens of coordinated operations. Notable arrests included two violent Mexican fugitives in San Diego, an international murder fugitive from Honduras in Newark, and an MS-13 gang member in Florida.

6. Human Smuggling Tragedy

• Laredo Shipping Container Fatalities: On May 10, federal agents opened a human smuggling homicide investigation after a Union Pacific employee discovered the bodies of six migrants who died of hyperthermia (heatstroke) inside a sealed shipping container at a rail yard near the Laredo, Texas border. A seventh body discovered along tracks near San Antonio is believed to be linked to the same event.

• Charges Filed: On May 11, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Agents detained Mayra Alejandra Huerta at a residence on the Rio Grande in Del Rio, Texas, where officers found $53,000 in cash. NewsNation reports that “investigators said in court Thursday (the charges of harboring undocumented immigrants against her) are directly connected” to the Laredo deaths. She has responded with a “not guilty” plea.

FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)

• Human Smuggling Deaths Highlight Texas Border Dangers

Six dead in Laredo rail yard - with more feared to come.

• Coast Guard, Navy Hit Caribbean Smugglers Hard

$65 million in drugs seized.

• Heads Continue to Roll at DHS

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks Departs.

• Why subscribe to US Border News?

We report what others do not.

I am committed to delivering a weekly newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.

(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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Cartel smugglers trying to move drugs across the Caribbean have had a bad month at the hands of the US Coast Guard & US Navy. They’ve seized $65.4 million worth of dope in two large recent busts.

The largest load of intercepted drugs - 8,185 Ibs of cocaine worth more than $61.6 million - was unloaded under heavy guard by the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma Thursday at Port Everglades, Florida.

This seizure occurred after the crew of the Tahoma intercepted three cartel smuggling vessels on May 8, 2026, in the Caribbean, 90 miles off Cartagena, Colombia.

Two of the boats followed Coast Guard commands to stop and be boarded, but the third unwisely tried to make a run for it.

A Coast Guard gunner aboard a helicopter fired warning shots across the vessel’s bow, and then shot out its outboard motors when it failed to yield. No one aboard the boat was injured during the confrontation.

The second drug seizure took place days earlier in the Caribbean off Mole Saint-Nicolas, Haiti. The Coast Guard Cutter Venturous and a Navy helicopter from the USS Billings intercepted a smuggling boat carrying 3,200 pounds of marijuana worth $3.8 million.

The smuggler, who was found to be a Haitian citizen, as well as his drug load, was turned over to Haitian authorities, as the seizure had occurred in Haitian waters with the consent of that country’s government.

Are you surprised that some smugglers try to outrun the Coast Guard despite shots being fired across their bow?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

Add us a preferred Google source!

A shake-up that began with the Departure of Department of Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem (who was replaced by Markwayne Mullin) on March 24, 2026, is continuing.

On the same day that Noem was replaced, Border Patrol “Commander at Large” Gregory Bovino - who had overseen operations in Minneapolis that resulted in the shooting deaths of two protestors -announced his retirement.

Three weeks later, ICE Director Todd Lyons announced his departure effective May 31, 2026.

Today, US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced his immediate retirement, sixteen months after assuming the position at the beginning of President Trump’s second term in office.

Banks announced his immediate departure in an email:

“After over 37 years in public service to the people of the United States of America, it is time for me to retire and return home to Texas to focus on my family and ranch.” -US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks

Banks served as “Texas Border Czar” under Governor Greg Abbott during “Operation Lone Star,” prior to rejoining the Border Patrol last year.

US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott noted that Chief Banks took over as head of the Border Patrol “during one of the most challenging periods for border security.”

“During his time as Chief, the border was transformed from chaos to the most secure border ever recorded. We wish him and his family well.” -CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott

What do you think of the leadership shake-ups within the Department of Homeland Security agencies?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

Add us a preferred Google source!

Why should you subscribe to US Border News?

We provide unique perspectives on US immigration & border security news that other media do not.

Our earliest subscribers know that this publication resulted from daily coverage by Jack Beavers of US Southern Border News on the Newsbreak mobile app, at the height of the disorder there five years ago, when migrant mobs were overwhelming federal law enforcement officers there.

We still publish some stories on Newsbreak.com, but US Border News is now our exclusive home on the Substack platform, featuring comprehensive, analytical news stories (plus our exclusive weekly US Border News Newsletter) you won’t get anywhere else.

So, what is unique about our coverage?

Let’s unpack that by looking at stories published during just the last month :

Our coverage this week about the six dead illegal aliens found inside a railcar in Laredo quickly pivoted from reporting “just the facts” (as most media outlets did) to a historical perspective on similar tragedies along the border, and cited recent social media posts by local and federal border authorities that indicated the likelihood of something like this happening was looming large.

That’s reporting you won’t get anywhere else - and it’s not a “one-off.”

Last month, we reported that the US Border Patrol was transferring a large number of agents from around the country to the Laredo, Texas sector (where the most recent rail disaster occurred) in response to a surge in cartel human smuggling activity there.

A few days earlier, we pointed out that the tactics the US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) is employing during the Trump Administration had first been used by Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona 20 years prior.

We’ve also published analysis from multiple independent agencies concluding US attacks on suspected “narco-boats” have disrupted - but not destroyed Caribbean drug-smuggling routes from Central and South America to the US and Europe.

And, we’ve also recently reported that many migrants who were released into the country during the immigration surge that began in 2021 and peaked in 2023, when Republican states transported them to Democratic cities, are back working in the very states that expelled them.

These US Border News stories go well beyond “what” is happening along the border to “why” they are occurring (which many news organizations do not explain).

US Border News brings you exclusive reporting and insights that many other news organizations do not.

We point this out not to criticize our competitors, but to emphasize the value of a (free!) subscription to US Border News.

If you have any suggestions about how we can improve our coverage, please leave them in the comments on this article.

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

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The bodies of six people, believed to be from Mexico and Honduras, were discovered Sunday in a railcar that arrived in Laredo, Texas. Webb County Medical Examiner Dr. Corinne Stern told Laredo's KGNS-TV that an autopsy of the lone woman among the group showed that she died of hyperthermia (heat stroke). Autopsies had not been completed on the five men at the time she spoke to KGNS, but it is suspected they died of similar causes.

The high temperature in Laredo was 90 degrees on Sunday, and temperatures inside a closed metal railcar can exceed 100 degrees under those conditions.

RELATED STORY: Border Patrol Answers Cartel Human Smuggling Surge

Hundreds of agents head to Laredo

This is a tragedy that law enforcement officers and first responders have seen in this part of Texas before.

Three years ago, an illegal alien dialed 911 requesting medical aid for fifteen people in distress aboard a freight train north of Laredo. Border Patrol Agents who stopped the train had to cut their way into a locked shipping container to reach the group. Two were already dead, and five were in critical condition.

Despite the dangers, cartel human smugglers regularly lock groups of people into northbound railcars, without water or regard for their safety.

In 2024, Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents discovered 23 illegal aliens locked inside northbound railcars in Cotulla, Texas. Once again, the group had no way to escape. Fortunately, none of them were found to need medical treatment after the officers cut their way inside and freed them.

Incredibly, just three days later, Cotulla Border Patrol Agents found another 20 illegal aliens locked aboard another northbound Union Pacific Train. Thankfully, none needed emergency medical assistance and were taken into custody.

Authorities along the Southwest Border with Mexico have been fearing a deadly tragedy like the one that just occurred in Laredo for several days now due to recent warning signs that something like this was overdue to occur.

Border Patrol Agents have had to go into “rescue” mode more often as temperatures rose across extremely remote, rugged, and unforgiving terrain.

Recent calls for help have occurred in areas such as the Big Bend National Park where a Border Patrol Paramedic aboard a helicopter performed life-saving treatment to evacuate a hiker overcome by extreme heat.

US Customs and Border Protection Officers in Arizona report similar stories:

Air Crews and Paramedics from the Tucson and Yuma Sectors have been responding to a growing number of 911 calls to rescue hikers in trouble in dangerously hot conditions there in recent days.

Then there are the 911 calls to assist illegal aliens in trouble as temperatures rise and Spring heads toward Summer:

Last week, three men from Guerrero, Mexico, who illegally crossed into Terrell County, Texas, found themselves in distress due to the rugged landscape and extreme heat, and dialed “911”.

A Sheriff’s deputy eventually located them about 50 miles north of the border and determined they were not in medical distress before turning them over to Border Patrol Agents.

The photo above shows how little shade is available along this part of the border. Anyone on foot there, without water, in full sun on a hot day, who is unfamiliar with the area can quickly find themselves in a life-threatening situation.

And, even paying a cartel “smuggling guide” who knows the area thousands of dollars is no guarantee of safety.

The photos above show Border Patrol medics treating an illegal alien who was abandoned in the Arizona desert last week by his “smuggling guide.”

The cartel human smuggling guides are known to be ruthless, and those who can’t keep up with them are often left to fend for themselves without water or shelter.

But even seasoned Border Patrol Agents can be shocked at how little they value human lives:

The photo above shows Border Patrol paramedics tending to a nine-year-old girl found alone recently and suffering from exposure to the elements.

When she could not keep up with her group, her "guide" left the child behind.

Fortunately, agents found her in time to provide life-saving treatment.

Are you surprised to learn that cartel human smugglers are abandoning children to the elements or locking adults in railcars in which temperatures exceed 100 degrees?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

Add us a preferred Google source!

During the week of May 3–9, 2026, U.S. immigration and border security news was dominated by the federal threats against “Sanctuary Cities” and the introduction of aggressive new enforcement and vetting measures.

1. Policy & Enforcement News

• Mass Deportation Threats: At the 2026 Border Security Expo on May 5, Border Czar Tom Homan promised to “flood the zone” with federal agents in “sanctuary” jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with ICE.

• Enhanced Security Vetting: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a new biometric re-vetting protocol as of early May. This has caused a freeze on pending applications—including green cards and citizenship—as they undergo expanded FBI criminal database screenings.

• CBP “Interior Operation” Reductions: Leaked notes from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullins’ meeting with the National Border Patrol Council revealed that the “Secretary of DHS does not want to use CBP for interior ops if possible. Wants to build relationships with locals and improve public image.” This new policy likely results from the fatal shootings of two protestors in Minneapolis by Border Patrol Officers in January.

• Oversight Reductions: On May 6, the administration, citing a Congressional funding lapse, closed the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, which was responsible for reviewing abuse and misconduct claims within the detention system.

• Detention Inspections Continue: On May 8, a federal appeals court ruled that lawmakers may continue to conduct unannounced inspections of ICE detention centers, rejecting an administration attempt to block these visits.

2. Visa & Application Updates

• Physician Exemption: By May 3, USCIS quietly lifted a freeze on visa processing for foreign-trained doctors, citing critical staffing shortages in the U.S. healthcare system.

• H-2B Cap Reached: USCIS announced it had reached the supplemental cap for H-2B returning worker visas for the period ending April 30, shifting focus to the next allocation for summer seasonal work.

• Asylum Rule Vacated: On May 7, 2026, a U.S. District Court vacated the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” (CLP) rule, a major policy affecting asylum claims at the border. This ruling restores the right to seek asylum regardless of the manner of entry.

ABOUT THAT RECENT US BORDER NEWS POLL:

Given that US Border News is publishing more articles about border security developments well south of our Southern Borders, in late April, we opened the following question up to reader votes:

Although a majority of those who chose to answer our poll favored that, the participation rate was low, so we will continue covering those issues within US Border News, rather than dedicating a separate publication to them. Thanks to all of you who voted and commented!

FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)

• Texas City Cancels Muslim Pool Party at Publicly-Owned Water Park

Grand Prairie reverses course

• Jovita Idár: Bravest Texas Woman You Never Knew

Once physically challenged the Texas Rangers

• The Most Important Cowboys in Texas History You Never Heard Of

Los Kineños - Hispanic Heart of America’s Largest Ranch

I am committed to delivering a weekly newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.

(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

Add us a preferred Google source!