Federal officials are temporarily sending at least 200 immigration agents, including BORTAC personnel, to Laredo, Texas, for 30 days after a marked increase in migrant encounters. DHS data show 2,600 encounters in March–April (a 50% rise) and 1,400 encounters this month — an 86% jump from April 2025. Sources report about 48 daily “gotaways”, and agents have found migrants hidden in truck compartments. The Fifth Circuit’s recent ruling may let Texas local police detain migrants under Senate Bill 4, while the Border Patrol Academy is training large overlapping cohorts to address staffing needs.
200 Border Patrol Agents Deployed to Laredo After Sharp Spike in Encounters
200 Border Patrol agents headed for Texas amid illegal crossings surge
Federal authorities are temporarily redeploying at least 200 immigration agents to Laredo, Texas, after a surge in illegal crossings and migrant encounters in the sector, NewsNation reports. The officers — normally assigned across both the northern and southern U.S. borders — will be stationed in the Laredo area for 30 days to support local Border Patrol personnel handling increased daily migrant activity.
Deployments and Official Data
Sources say the surge will include personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s special operations unit, BORTAC, frequently called on for high-risk field operations. Department of Homeland Security data obtained by NewsNation show 2,600 encounters between federal agents and migrants in the Laredo Sector during March and April — roughly a 50% increase from the prior two-month period. DHS also reported 1,400 encounters in Laredo this month, an 86% increase over April 2025.
CBP officials note that the Laredo Sector is bordered entirely by the Rio Grande and lacks natural barriers that could impede crossings, making it attractive to smuggling networks. In a statement to NewsNation, CBP officials praised the administration’s border posture:
“Thanks to President Trump, we have the most secure border in American history. Thanks to record low crossings, we have the manpower and flexibility to move agents quickly, concentrate resources, and take enforcement action where it matters most.”
Local Opposition to Wall Expansion
Sources say the administration plans to expand the border wall through parts of Laredo, but local leaders have resisted. City officials and residents have expressed concerns that construction would cut through residential neighborhoods and eliminate river views. Officials say the city hopes to negotiate with federal authorities rather than pursue litigation.
During President Donald Trump’s second term, roughly 27 miles of so-called smart wall were completed along the southern border. DHS materials indicate plans to expand smart-wall technology more extensively, though local opposition in Laredo remains strong.
"Gotaways," Smuggling and Public Safety Concerns
Border Patrol personnel in the Laredo area report an increase in individuals who evade capture after crossing — known as “gotaways.” Sources told NewsNation the agency is averaging about 48 gotaways per day in the region. Many appear on border camera footage but are not intercepted, prompting public-safety concerns about unknown entrants.
“For any of us who have done this for a living, one (gotaway) is too many because all it takes is one bad actor to cause harm…There’s lots of concern about not knowing who is coming into our country and who they are, what they’re bringing and what their purpose is,” said Jason Owens, a former CBP commander.
Smuggling incidents reported by agents include migrants concealed in truck compartments. In one recent case, agents found a 13-year-old locked inside a closet compartment, a pregnant migrant hidden in a sleeper compartment, and eight others concealed under mattresses and in other compartments. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks said everyone found in the truck faces deportation and that the driver has been charged with federal human-smuggling offenses.
Legal and Staffing Context
The personnel increase coincides with a recent ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that could allow Texas state and local police to arrest migrants who enter the country illegally, effectively clearing the way for enforcement of Senate Bill 4. Local officials and civil rights advocates have expressed concern about the implications of expanded state-level enforcement.
With staffing shortfalls at the Laredo station, reinforcements are also being trained at the Border Patrol Academy in New Mexico. More than 70 classes are scheduled this year, each with roughly 60 trainees. The 19-week training program overlaps across cohorts, meaning that as many as nearly 1,000 trainees could be enrolled at the academy at the same time.
This deployment aims to relieve pressure on local agents, deter smuggling, and reduce gotaways while federal and local authorities work through operational and legal challenges in the region.
Help us improve.
