During a House Appropriations Committee Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing, Congressman Tony Gonzales raised concerns about illegal border crossings in the Big Bend Sector. The discussion took place with Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Pete Flores.
Congressman Gonzales highlighted the ongoing foot traffic in the Big Bend Sector, noting its continuous activity despite being less accessible and sparsely populated. He stated, “These other sectors get a lot of attention, but the Big Bend Sector, in my eyes, is an area that hasn’t slowed down.” He asked if there were measures to support local communities affected by this issue.
In response, Acting CBP Commissioner Flores explained their current strategies: “We continue to look at our high-traffic areas and reevaluate that with the support that we’re getting—being able to put agents back to do law enforcement work, the ingestion of technology that we have.” He emphasized efforts involving collaboration with the Department of Defense (DOD) to enhance border security through technological advancements and personnel deployment.
Flores also mentioned plans for achieving complete situational awareness along the border: “We’ll continue to work towards 100% situational awareness…so we can ensure that we know what’s coming across the border.” He indicated that enforcement actions are crucial for deterring illegal crossings and addressing problematic areas effectively.
