Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced the introduction of a list of the state’s “Top 10 Most Wanted Illegal Immigrant Criminals,” aimed at strengthening law enforcement efforts to apprehend habitual offenders who have illegally entered the United States and committed serious crimes in Texas.
This new initiative, created in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, will offer cash rewards to anyone providing information that leads to the arrest of foreign criminals on the list.
The Republican governor criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies when he unveiled the list on June 5, contrasting them with those of former President Donald Trump.
“When Joe Biden assumed the presidency, he overturned every effective border policy his predecessor had put in place,” Abbott said in a statement. “As a result, we have seen a historic surge in illegal immigration, including dangerous criminals and terrorists who pose a threat to the public safety of our state and nation.”
Most of the 10 individuals on the new wanted list have multiple criminal records, with six of them wanted for crimes involving sexual offenses against children.
The governor further emphasized that the new list is part of Texas’ ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its residents and combat crime.
“Texas is a law and order state, and with the help of our fellow Texans, we will ensure that these illegal immigrants on the list are taken off our streets and put behind bars to secure the safety of our communities,” Abbott stated.
Abbott’s statement warns Texans against attempting to apprehend the listed illegal immigrant criminals themselves and instead encourages them to report any information by calling the Crime Stopper hotline at 1-800-252-8477, submitting tips on the DPS website, or providing information on Facebook.
Republicans have accused Biden’s policies of exacerbating the border crisis and have called for measures such as ending the Biden administration’s controversial “catch and release” policy, expanding expedited removals, rebuilding the border wall, and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy from the Trump era.
Trump has blamed Biden and the Democratic Party for pursuing open border policies as a means of expanding the Democratic voter base and has pledged to implement a large-scale plan to deport illegal immigrants if he is re-elected.
The White House has not responded to Abbott’s allegations regarding the Biden administration’s border policies and the surge in illegal immigration and asylum applications.
Recently, Biden signed an executive order to close certain asylum applications at the southern border once the daily average encounters exceed 2,500 individuals.
Democrats have criticized Republican lawmakers for being hypocritical on the border crisis, accusing them of failing to support Biden’s border security bill which requires the suspension of asylum requests and automatic denials for illegal immigrants entering the country once the daily transit number exceeds 5,000.
Republicans oppose this measure, viewing it as insufficient and warning that it may effectively codify the entry of 5,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S., making the situation worse.
In addition to the massive scale of illegal immigration, there are significant national security concerns.
For example, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas recently predicted that it is only a matter of time before a terrorist attack occurs following confirmation by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines of a human smuggling network connected to ISIS aiding illegal immigrants in crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
While the senator issued his warning, the latest Homeland Threat Assessment indicates that foreign terrorists are actively gathering travel route information that could assist them in entering the U.S.
Previously, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on March 11, warning that it is “undoubtedly” the case that criminals have crossed the southern border into the U.S.
Wray stated, “We are very concerned with a specific group—a network that some overseas associate with ISIS—that we have been investigating with many of partners.”
He added that threats from various groups have reached a “whole new level.”
The FBI and DHS recently issued a public service announcement, saying foreign terrorist organizations like ISIS may target certain events across the U.S. during June’s LGBT Pride Month.
According to data from CBP, so far this fiscal year, law enforcement agents have encountered 196 individuals on the FBI’s terrorist watch list, with 81 individuals arrested while attempting to illegally cross into the country at entry ports.
The latest CBP data shows that in April alone, 128,900 illegal immigrants were apprehended at U.S. entry ports, bringing the total number of illegal entries during Biden’s tenure to over 9 million, not including those not arrested, although some estimates suggest this figure could be much higher.
For instance, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated in mid-April that he believes the 9 million figure is severely underestimated and that the actual number is closer to 16 million.
During a press conference on April 10, the Speaker remarked, “From day one since Joe Biden took over the White House, they have been wide open with regard to the border.” He also noted that the Biden administration has taken over 60 specific administrative actions and initiatives to “expand border openness.”