All articles tagged with #us customs and border protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in California seized over 1,400 packages of methamphetamine worth more than $18 million hidden in a shipment of squash. The discovery was made at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility using scanning technology and a narcotics detection canine. The driver was arrested, and the seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a counter-fentanyl effort.
Ike Nicholas Souzer, a Southern California man convicted of killing his mother as a teenager, was captured in Mexico after walking away from a halfway house, violating the conditions of his probation. He had previously served his sentence for the 2017 killing and had a history of escaping custody. The Orange County District Attorney's Office described him as "extremely dangerous and violent." Authorities blamed judges for not giving him harsher sentences, and he has also been charged with attacks on correctional officers and other offenses.
Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the Biden administration secretly flew hundreds of thousands of migrants into the United States, citing a report by the Center for Immigration Studies. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection discloses the number of migrants admitted under the parole program each month, and migrants are not being flown in randomly. The Biden administration has exercised parole authority for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, but those admitted under parole have no path to citizenship and can only obtain work permits for a limited time. The claim of secretly flying people into the country was refuted by a White House spokesperson, who stated that reports were "categorically false."
The chief medical officer for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency allegedly repeatedly asked staff members to order fentanyl lollipops for him to take on a helicopter mission to the United Nations in New York City, according to a whistleblower report. Dr. Alexander Eastman's attempts to order the lollipops were unsuccessful due to lack of funding, and he allegedly proceeded to write his own policy for the procurement, storage, and disposal of Schedule II narcotics. The report recommends a thorough investigation of Eastman and halting any controlled substance purchase approvals made by him.
Migrant encounters at the Texas border dropped significantly in January, with Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to secure the border being attributed to the decrease. The drop in crossings in Texas contributed to an overall decrease in migrant encounters across the U.S. border. Abbott's response to the immigration issue has boosted his popularity in Texas, and he continues to allocate resources to diminish migrant encounters, including more wire and National Guard troops. The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass an immigration bill that included provisions for border security and foreign aid, including funds for a border wall.
Miami International Airport is bustling with the arrival of around 460 million flowers from South America for Valentine’s Day, with 90% of the roses and fresh cut flowers in the U.S. passing through Miami. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are working to ensure that the floral imports are free from harmful pests and diseases. This massive undertaking involves inspecting hundreds of flights and millions of flower stems, with the Valentine’s rush soon to be followed by preparations for Mother’s Day in May.
Mummified monkey remains, initially claimed to be dried fish, were discovered in a traveler's luggage at Boston Logan International Airport. The remains, including heads, belonged to four monkeys and were found during a security screening after the traveler returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the bushmeat, which can carry germs including the Ebola virus, was marked for destruction by the Centers for Disease Control due to health concerns. This incident is part of a trend of airport agents encountering prohibited meats, such as charred bat and rat meat, being brought into the U.S.
Four mummified monkeys were seized from a passenger's luggage at Boston Logan Airport after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection K9 detected them upon the passenger's return from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The passenger claimed the bag only contained dried fish, but upon inspection, the monkeys were found. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested the luggage be seized due to the potential disease risk associated with bushmeat, and the nearly 9 pounds of bushmeat was marked for destruction. No charges were filed against the passenger, who stated he brought the monkeys for his own consumption.
A traveler returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Boston Logan Airport was found with four mummified monkeys in his luggage, which he claimed were dried fish for personal consumption. The US Customs and Border Protection seized the luggage, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention marked the nearly 9lbs of bushmeat for destruction due to the potential health risks associated with consuming wild animals.
A traveler returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Boston was found with mummified monkeys in his luggage, claiming they were dried fish for personal consumption. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the nearly 9 pounds of bushmeat, which is banned in the U.S. due to disease threats, and marked it for destruction by the CDC. No charges were filed, but the incident highlights the real dangers of bringing bushmeat into the country.
Chinese migrants, including many from the middle class, are utilizing a new route to enter the United States from Mexico, with nearly 7,000 miles of travel. Many are seeking political asylum to escape China's repressive political climate and sluggish economy. The migrants, who have learned about the entryway through social media platforms like TikTok, are paying smugglers to reach the U.S. and are often released into the country to begin the asylum process. The surge in Chinese migrants crossing the border has raised concerns about the U.S. immigration system's ability to handle the influx and the challenges of repatriating those with failed asylum claims.
President Biden pledges to use new emergency authority to "shut down" the border when overwhelmed if Congress passes bipartisan immigration legislation, which he describes as the toughest and fairest reforms for border security. This comes as U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports a record number of encounters with undocumented migrants in December, prompting Biden to emphasize the need to fix the "broken" border. The Senate is in talks to strike a deal on border funding and aid for Ukraine, while former President Trump seeks to derail the bipartisan border agreement.
The blood oxygen feature is being removed from the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 devices in an effort to avoid a ban resulting from a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. US Customs and Border Protection has approved this measure, allowing Apple to consider selling the products again. The feature appears to still be active on watches already sold, but it's unclear how long this will be the case. Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg stated that the watches would continue to be available with the feature, but it's advised to carefully check for updates and consider holding off on purchasing a new Apple Watch if the blood oxygen feature is important to you.
Federal authorities seized 100 pounds of ketamine, worth $4 million, from a traveler arriving at Detroit Metro Airport from France. The U.K. citizen was denied entry into the country and sent back to France, while U.S. officials kept the drugs. Ketamine is a sedative that can be abused for its hallucinogenic effects and was the drug that authorities say killed actor Matthew Perry. The traveler claimed he was visiting his girlfriend in New Jersey, but the large amount of drugs in his luggage raised suspicions. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes an average of nearly 2,900 pounds of dangerous drugs daily at its ports of entry.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has temporarily closed three U.S./Mexico international railway crossing bridges, citing a surge in migrants. Union Pacific and BNSF, the two affected railroads, are urging the reopening of the crossings, as they account for a significant portion of cross-border business. The closures have led to the embargo of goods and the holding of over 10,000 railcars on both sides of the border. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has called for the reopening of the crossings, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the North American rail network. The CBP's decision comes amid a series of similar closures along the border due to the increased movement of migrants through Mexico via freight trains.