Washington — During an exclusive sit-down with CBS News, U.S. Border Patrol chief Jason Owens labeled the situation at the southern border as a "national security threat," expressing worry over the tens of thousands of migrants who have managed to slip past apprehension and entered the country covertly over the last five months.
Owens disclosed that Border Patrol is on the verge of reaching one million apprehensions of migrants between ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2024 fiscal year, which commenced in October. He further stated that for the third consecutive year, his agency is set to hit two million apprehensions by the end of September, marking the close of the fiscal year.
"While that number is significant, what truly concerns me are the 140,000 known individuals who have slipped through our grasp," Owens shared in his first exclusive interview since taking on the role of Border Patrol chief. He was referring to migrants who are detected by cameras and sensors crossing into the U.S. unlawfully, yet manage to avoid apprehension.
"Why are they risking their lives and crossing in areas where we can't get to?" Owens pondered. "Why are they hiding? What do they have to hide? What are they bringing in? What is their intent? Where are they coming from? We simply don't know the answers to those questions. Those things for us are what represent the threat to our communities."
"Border security plays a crucial role in national security," he emphasized. "If we are unaware of who is entering our country and their intentions, it poses a threat as they exploit vulnerabilities at our border."
Owens acknowledged that the majority of migrants arriving at the U.S. border are "good people."
"I believe that the migrants who surrender themselves, for the most part, are good individuals," Owens expressed. "I hope they opt for the proper channels to enter our country rather than starting off by violating our laws."
While Owens noted that only a "very small percentage" of those apprehended at the southern border have serious criminal backgrounds, such as convicted gang members or sex offenders, he highlighted that most migrants are turning themselves in to Border Patrol agents to escape poverty or violence in their home nations.
"They are crossing the border because they are either fleeing dire circumstances or seeking better opportunities as economic migrants," he added.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics reveal that only a small percentage of migrants processed by Border Patrol have criminal records in the U.S. or in countries that share information with American officials. Furthermore, an even smaller fraction have been convicted of serious crimes. Available data and studies indicate that undocumented migrants in the U.S. do not engage in criminal activities at a higher rate than native-born Americans.
Despite these findings, high-ranking law enforcement officials, such as FBI director Christopher Wray, have expressed concerns about criminal elements, including potential terrorists, taking advantage of the significant levels of migration across the U.S. southern border in recent years.
Owens, who has served in Border Patrol for over 25 years and assumed the agency's top position in June 2023 after Raul Ortiz's retirement, attributed the substantial influx of individuals into the U.S. primarily to cartels.
When questioned about whether the cartels were dictating the "rules of engagement" at the southern border, Owens affirmed, stating, "yes, they absolutely are."
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas praised Owens as a "talented, selfless, and inspiring leader" upon his promotion announcement.
During his CBS News interview at CBP headquarters in Washington, Owens emphasized the need for stricter immigration policies to stem the flow of migrants arriving at the southern border.
"I'm talking about consequences. I'm talking about facing imprisonment. I'm talking about deportation and I'm talking about being barred from reentry because you opted to enter the country illegally instead of following the legal channels that have been put in place for you," he declared.
