Border Patrol Issues Safety Alert to Agents After Intercepting Threatening Text Messages

Texas Army National Guard look on as illegal immigrants board a bus after surrendering to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing following the end of Title 42 on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 12, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued an internal alert regarding intercepted messages asking for CBP agents’ home addresses with the intent of “torturing” them and their families.

The sender has promised to pay “top dollar” for “good” information and to “post us torturing any bp agent u send [sic],” the Washington Examiner reported.

“We will pay for any addresses of Border Patrol agents!! $200 your way if you get me a border patrol agent’s address. $1K if you get me they mommas address,” reads the message, according to a screenshot obtained by the outlet on Tuesday evening. “We offer $$$ for information on BP agents. Top dollar on good info. I’ll post us torturing any bp agent u send [sic].”

On Oct. 10, the CBP El Paso Sector Intelligence and Operations Center issued an “Officer Safety Alert” warning agents about the proposed threat against CBP agents and their families, according to the document also obtained by the Washington Examiner.

“Agents are reminded to remain cognizant of their surroundings at all times and to immediately report any suspicious activity to their supervisors,” the document states. “Additionally, agents are highly encouraged to exercise caution when sharing identifying content on social media platforms.”

CBP said it “takes all threats very seriously” and is responding accordingly.

“CBP takes all threats, including those directed towards agents and their families, very seriously,” a CBP spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “While counter-measures are law enforcement sensitive, we deploy necessary precautions accordingly.”

The FBI’s investigation into the threats is ongoing.

“Las Cruces FBI agents encountered a message in [which] a subject is offering money to anyone who can provide addresses of BPAs,” reads the alert. “The sender offered a higher compensation amount for the address of any agents’ mother and/or ”Top dollar“ for good information on agents. The sender stated he would post them torturing any BPA they send information.”

‘Special Interest Aliens’

Thousands of “special interest aliens” have been arrested by CBP between October 1, 2021, and October 4, 2023, Fox News reported earlier this week.

Special interest aliens is a term used by the U.S. government that refers to people from countries having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or may pose a national security threat.

The data showed more than 72,823 special interest aliens, the majority from Middle Eastern countries, were apprehended over the two-year period.

The highest number of special interest aliens came from Turkey with 30,830, the North African country of Mauritania with 15,59, followed by Uzbekistan with 13,624.

The fourth highest number came from Afghanistan with 6,386, followed by Egypt with 3,153, and Pakistan with 1,613.

Next were Iran and Syria, at 659 and 538 encounters, respectively. Followed by Lebanon with 164 and Yemen with 139. Another 123 came from Iraq.

The number of illegal immigrants removed or released into the U.S. was not included in the data, according to Fox.

It also does not include “gotaways” that entered the country undetected by law enforcement.

CBP confirmed to The Epoch Times that the internal data was leaked to the news outlet, but the official would not provide further information.

Increased Security and Public Safety Alert

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has also issued a statewide public safety notice in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s law enforcement directive following the recent terrorist attacks against Israel.

The agency said it had not received specific threats against citizens but is concerned the war could spark violence from extremists and terrorist cells that are operating in the U.S.

“At this time, DPS is not aware of any specific or credible threats to Texas,” DPS said in a news release on Tuesday. “However, the department does have concerns the current conflict could inspire homegrown violent extremists and foreign terrorist organizations in the United States to target the Jewish community and institutions associated with Israel outside of the Middle East.”

Citizens are encouraged to “remain vigilant at all times.” Any suspicious activity can be reported through the iWatch Texas app. All reports will be kept confidential, according to DPS. The free app is available for Android or iOS.

Mr. Abbott said he is providing $4 million in additional funding to enhance the safety of Jewish and “Israel-related” organizations in the state.

“The state of Texas condemns these heinous acts of violence and inhumanity against Israel and its people by ruthless terrorists, and we stand ready to offer our complete support to the Israeli and Jewish communities,” the governor said.

“Working with local partners across Texas, we are actively increasing security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools. In response to the cowardly attacks, we stand united with our Jewish neighbors, and we repudiate terrorism and anti-semitism.”