As President Trump’s border crackdown drives illegal crossings down to historic lows, smugglers are doing anything they can to keep profiting from their terrible trade.
In the remote stretch of west Texas border in Terrell County, Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland is seeing migrant crossings pick up because it’s so remote that it’s difficult to patrol.
“Up until now we were slowing down, I think as the year progresses more activity will move out here because it’s wide open spaces,” Cleveland told The Post.
About 60 migrants have been captured in the last ten days trying to traverse the mountainous desert region that is home to just 800 residents, said Cleveland.
Crossing the border here is more dangerous than crowded areas like El Paso and McAllen because there is no food or water available as migrants have to trek for many miles on foot.
Groups of dozens of migrants, mainly from Mexico, clad in camouflage were seen trying to trek through the mountainous desert before they were captured by burly Border Patrol agents, videos and images shared by Cleveland show.
While there is an uptick in illegal crossings, the situation still pales in comparison to the more than 18,000 migrants who were apprehended and 21,000 “gotaways”— migrants who successfully ran past border authorities— in the region during the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, across the entire southern border, Border Patrol recorded just 7,100 illegal crossings last month, the lowest level on record since Trump ended the problematic “catch and release” policy of the Biden administration.
That marks a 94% drop from the 137,000 people who poured across the border in March last year.
But the desperation is growing for people traffickers, and migrants are now trying “to make it in undetected and run when we encounter them,” Cleveland said.
He added: “They aren’t seeking political relief.”
Cleveland anticipates that as other parts of the border receive more resources, smugglers will move more of their operations to his county.
He said it’s a warning that even more money for border enforcement is needed.
“President Trump has done his part along the border, now it’s time for Congress to do their part,” said Cleveland.
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