The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued an internal alert regarding intercepted messages asking for CBP agents’ home addresses with the intent of “torturing” them and their families.
“We will pay for any addresses of Border Patrol agents!! $200 your way if you get me a border patrol agent’s address. $1K if you get me they mommas address,” reads the message, according to a screenshot obtained by the outlet on Tuesday evening. “We offer $$$ for information on BP agents. Top dollar on good info. I’ll post us torturing any bp agent u send [sic].”
On Oct. 10, the CBP El Paso Sector Intelligence and Operations Center issued an “Officer Safety Alert” warning agents about the proposed threat against CBP agents and their families, according to the document also obtained by the Washington Examiner.
“Agents are reminded to remain cognizant of their surroundings at all times and to immediately report any suspicious activity to their supervisors,” the document states. “Additionally, agents are highly encouraged to exercise caution when sharing identifying content on social media platforms.”
CBP said it “takes all threats very seriously” and is responding accordingly.
“CBP takes all threats, including those directed towards agents and their families, very seriously,” a CBP spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “While counter-measures are law enforcement sensitive, we deploy necessary precautions accordingly.”
The FBI’s investigation into the threats is ongoing.
‘Special Interest Aliens’
Thousands of “special interest aliens” have been arrested by CBP between October 1, 2021, and October 4, 2023, Fox News reported earlier this week.Special interest aliens is a term used by the U.S. government that refers to people from countries having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or may pose a national security threat.
The data showed more than 72,823 special interest aliens, the majority from Middle Eastern countries, were apprehended over the two-year period.
The highest number of special interest aliens came from Turkey with 30,830, the North African country of Mauritania with 15,59, followed by Uzbekistan with 13,624.
The fourth highest number came from Afghanistan with 6,386, followed by Egypt with 3,153, and Pakistan with 1,613.
Next were Iran and Syria, at 659 and 538 encounters, respectively. Followed by Lebanon with 164 and Yemen with 139. Another 123 came from Iraq.
The number of illegal immigrants removed or released into the U.S. was not included in the data, according to Fox.
It also does not include “gotaways” that entered the country undetected by law enforcement.
Increased Security and Public Safety Alert
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has also issued a statewide public safety notice in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s law enforcement directive following the recent terrorist attacks against Israel.The agency said it had not received specific threats against citizens but is concerned the war could spark violence from extremists and terrorist cells that are operating in the U.S.
Citizens are encouraged to “remain vigilant at all times.” Any suspicious activity can be reported through the iWatch Texas app. All reports will be kept confidential, according to DPS. The free app is available for Android or iOS.
Mr. Abbott said he is providing $4 million in additional funding to enhance the safety of Jewish and “Israel-related” organizations in the state.
“The state of Texas condemns these heinous acts of violence and inhumanity against Israel and its people by ruthless terrorists, and we stand ready to offer our complete support to the Israeli and Jewish communities,” the governor said.
“Working with local partners across Texas, we are actively increasing security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools. In response to the cowardly attacks, we stand united with our Jewish neighbors, and we repudiate terrorism and anti-semitism.”
