Staff Reports
A notable surge in the influx of Special Interest Migrants traversing the US-Mexico border has been observed since October 1. Among these are fifty Iranian male nationals of "military age" and fifty Syrians. In light of the escalating tensions in the Middle East and Iran's recent threats against the United States, this surge is especially concerning. CBP sources are concerned about the apprehension of Syrian and Iranian migrants along the southwest frontier in October.
Iranian ‘Military-Age' Migrants Flood US Border as Middle East War Tensions Risehttps://t.co/ybsb75mS7u
— The Daily Fetched (@DailyFetched) October 30, 2023
A group of more than three hundred individuals, including an Iranian national, was apprehended near Eagle Pass, Texas, just last Saturday. They had entered the small border city from the north. Particularly concerning are encounters with Iranian and Syrian nationals, given the United States' airstrikes against sites in Syria with ties to Iran. The absence of intelligence warnings in advance regarding the entrance of Special Interest Migrants from the region further complicates the situation. In order to ascertain the identities and motivations of migrant groups, Border Patrol agents are compelled to conduct sorting.
Eleven Special Interest Migrants from Middle Eastern nations were apprehended by Border Patrol agents between October 8 and October 14. Among these were one Egyptian, three Lebanese, six Iranian, and one Saudi Arabian nationals. These individuals were apprehended along the Rio Grande in Texas by the Del Rio Sector of the Border Patrol. Single adult males constitute the preponderance of Syrian and Iranian Special Interest Migrants.
Syria and Iran have both been issued travel advisories by the State Department on account of the dangers of terrorism, arbitrary arrests, and abduction. CBP sources assert that Special Interest migrants may present a recognized danger to the United States, notwithstanding the dearth of substantial intelligence.
This surge in migrants of special interest is not an isolated occurrence. The Border Patrol encountered more than 61,000 of these individuals in Fiscal Year 2023 alone, representing a forty percent increase compared to the preceding year. In the two fiscal years preceding this one, an astounding 86,000 migrants with special interests entered the United States illegally. As per a 2019 DHS fact sheet, Special Interest Aliens are non-U.S. citizens who may constitute a potential threat to national security due to their travel patterns.
In light of the present circumstances, it is imperative that the United States takes prompt and effective action to resolve this matter. Ensuring the safety and security of the American people ought to be a perpetual top priority.
