Agents say just 40 percent of U.S.-Mexico border under control

A man climbs the border wall to cross into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, on Sept. 11, 2008. (Associated Press)

Stephen Dinan
September 9, 2015
Washington Times

20 percent of illegals caught at border have criminal records

Less than half of the U.S.-Mexico border is under “operational control” at this point, the chief of the Border Patrol agents testified to Congress Thursday, detailing the porous situation and violent conditions in the southwest.

Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, also said one out of every five illegal immigrants agents caught along the border in 2014 had a criminal record, which helps explain some of the violence that occurs.

Nearly half of the criminal aliens deported had aggravated felonies on their records, Mr. Judd testified to the House Oversight Committee.

“This is the challenge we are facing at the border today. There are those who will point to lower apprehension rates and tell you the border is secure. Border Patrol agents, however, throughout this nation will tell you the border is not secure and the southwest border certainly is not safe.”

Asked by Chairman Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican, how much of the border is under “operational control,” meaning the government is poised to deter or apprehend illegal entries, Robert L. Harris, director of Customs and Border Protection’s joint task force in charge of combating border violence, said he couldn’t answer.

But Mr. Judd said based on what he hears from his union’s line agents across the border, “I would say we would be lucky if we’re 40 percent.”