Police: Escaped Pa. Murderer Could Be Anywhere, Has Changed Appearance

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Police: Escaped Pa. Murderer Could Be Anywhere, Has Changed Appearance

(Headline USA) Authorities say an escaped murderer who has eluded capture since breaking out of a southeastern Pennsylvania prison a week and a half ago slipped out of the search area, changed his appearance, stole a dairy delivery van, abandoning it miles away and remained at large.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Sunday that Danelo Souza Cavalcante stole the unlocked van which had the keys inside sometime Saturday night about three-quarters of a mile from the northern perimeter of the search area where hundreds of law enforcement officers had been searching for him.

Baily’s Dairy said on its Facebook page that the delivery van was stolen between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday “while we were still here working.”

The theft wasn’t noticed for hours, and in the meantime Cavalcante, 34, traveled more than 20 miles northeast to East Pikeland Township and Phoenixville. Shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday he went to an East Pikeland Township home of a person he had worked with several years ago and asked to meet with him, police said.

The homeowner, who was at dinner with his family and didn’t respond, called police after returning home and reviewing his doorbell video. Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, police said, Cavalcante went to the Phoenixville area home of another former work associate, who wasn’t home, police said.

Doorbell video images showed Cavalcante to be now clean-shaven and wearing a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, green prison pants and white shoes, police said. The stolen van was found at 10:40 a.m. Sunday in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, about 15 miles west of Phoenixville.

Bivens said he believed Cavalcante abandoned the vehicle at least in part because it was low on fuel. While law enforcement was searching the immediate area for any signs of him authorities were concerned that he would attempt to obtain another vehicle or had already done so.

“I do not have a report of a stolen vehicle; I anticipate that we will,” he said.

Bivens expressed confidence, how that the fugitive would eventually be recaptured, vowing to “aggressively continue” the search with the aid of federal, state, county and local resources.

“This is a minor setback,” he said. “We’ll get him, it’s a matter of time.”

Cavalcante, 34, escaped from the Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to state prison on Aug. 31 after being sentenced to life for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police that he’s wanted in a killing in his home country of Brazil.

Police on Saturday had reported two more confirmed sightings of Cavalcante within the search area around the Longwood Gardens botanical park, the center of the search in recent days. Bivens said Friday that about 400 personnel were taking part in the search, including tactical teams, tracking dogs, and officers on horseback as well as aircraft.

Despite the massive searches, Bivens said the area had some underground tunnels and “very large drainage ditches” that were impossible to secure completely. Police had been planning to use close to 600 personnel Monday for “one massive sweep” of the search area, he said.

Authorities have described Cavalcante as extremely dangerous. Police are asking anyone with information to call 911. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture.

Authorities on Friday announced the firing of the prison tower guard on duty when Cavalcante scaled a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, climbed over razor wire, ran across a roof and jumped to the ground. His escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.

Cavalcante’s escape and the search has attracted international attention and became big news in Brazil, where prosecutors in Tocantins state say he’s accused of “double qualified homicide” in the 2017 slaying of Válter Júnior Moreira dos Reis in Figueirópolis, which they allege was over a debt the victim owed him in connection with repair of a vehicle.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Americans Remember 22nd Anniversary of 9/11 Terror Attacks

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Americans Remember 22nd Anniversary of 9/11 Terror Attacks

(Headline USA) Bells tolled at ground zero and solemn tributes unfolded around the country as Americans looked back Monday on the horror and legacy of 9/11.

People gathered at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed at New York’s World Trade Centerl the Pentagon; and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the attack reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears.

“For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening. Everybody else moves on. And you find a way to go forward, but that day is always happening for you,” Edward Edelman said as he arrived at ground zero to honor his slain brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley.

The hijacked plane attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives and reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears.

On that day, “we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling — that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help,” said Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia’s Goochland County.

It’s more than 100 miles from the Pentagon and more than three times as far from New York. But a sense of connection is enshrined in a local memorial incorporating steel from the World Trade Center’s destroyed twin towers.

The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people holds not just one but two anniversary commemorations: a morning service focused on first responders and an evening ceremony honoring all the victims.

Other communities across the country pay tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities. In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony.

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a “Heroes Memorial” includes a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque honoring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs. Some of her relatives live in the St. Louis suburb of 4,000 residents.

“We’re just a little bitty community,” said Mayor Joe Maurath, but “it’s important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free.”

New Jersey’s Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made Sept. 11 a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations.

As another way of marking the anniversary, many Americans do volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

At ground zero, the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum plaza was not expected to feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims’ relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead.

James Giaccone signed up to read again this year in memory of his brother, Joseph Giaccone, 43. The family attends the ceremony every year to hear Joseph’s name.

“If their name is spoken out loud, they don’t disappear,” James Giaccone said in a recent interview.

The commemoration is crucial to him.

“I hope I never see the day when they minimize this,” he said. “It’s a day that changed history.”

In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit, a remembrance and wreath-laying is scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown operated by the National Park Service.

The memorial site will offer a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access to the free “National Day of Learning” program, which will be available through the fall, organizers say.

“We need to get the word out to the next generation,” said memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler, a National Park Service ranger.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Biden Frustrated DOJ Interference Didn’t Protect Hunter Amid Charges: Report

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Biden Frustrated DOJ Interference Didn’t Protect Hunter Amid Charges: Report

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) President Joe Biden continues to grow frustrated as legal troubles surrounding his son, Hunter Biden, remain persistent. 

Anonymous sources close to the president revealed to the New York Times on Sunday that Biden’s emotional state has taken a troubling turn in recent weeks, reflecting the growing turmoil embroiling the First Family. 

“He plunged into sadness and frustration, according to several people close to him who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve their relationships with the Biden family,” the Times reported. “Since then, his tone in conversations about Hunter has been tinged with a resignation that was not there before, his confidants say.” 

At the center of this turmoil is a controversial deal that the DOJ initially offered to Hunter. Critics widely criticized this deal as a “sweetheart deal.” Initially, it seemed that Hunter would plead guilty to tax charges while avoiding jail time for a felony gun charge. 

However, Judge Maryellen Noreika quickly unraveled this deal under scrutiny, raising serious questions about the DOJ’s handling of the case and the extent of immunity from future charges. 

The failed deal prompted U.S. District Attorney David Weiss to seek special counsel status from Attorney General Merrick Garland. Shortly thereafter, House Republicans scrutinized Garland’s assertion of Weiss’s independence. 

Adding to the fire, Biden falsely claimed that he had not interfered in the criminal investigation of his son. However, IRS whistleblowers explicitly contradict these claims. Gary Shapley, a supervisory special agent within the IRS, revealed that Weiss privately told them he lacked the authority to prosecute Hunter in jurisdictions beyond his purview, despite Garland’s assurances to Congress. 

The president’s woes increased when revelations surfaced that some of his closest advisors had cautioned him to distance himself from his son. As reported by the Times, they argued that Biden’s loyalty to Hunter, manifested in joint appearances and invitations to official government events, had resulted in a seemingly never-ending series of political troubles. 

Furthermore, impeachment threats now loom large over Biden as House Republicans allege his involvement in bribery linked to Hunter’s contentious business dealings. These allegations hinge on an FBI file containing a Burisma executive’s testimony claiming a $10 million payment to the Bidens. The allegations are deeply connected to the firing of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, a move made at Biden’s request. 

In a stunning interview, Shokin told Fox News last month that he strongly believes Biden was involved in bribery, further deepening the cloud of suspicion surrounding the president. 

Despite these mounting challenges, the exact timing of a potential prosecution of Hunter remains uncertain. Leaked documents suggest that the DOJ is preparing to pursue gun-related charges against him before the 2024 presidential election. 

Veterans Slam Biden 9/11 Insult: ‘One More Snub to the American People’

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Veterans Slam Biden 9/11 Insult: ‘One More Snub to the American People’

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) President Joe Biden has drawn criticism for his decision not to visit New York City to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Instead, he will travel to Alaska, while Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will represent the administration at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in NYC. First Lady Jill Biden will remain in Washington, D.C. 

The president’s choice sparked outrage, particularly in the wake of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’s scathing comments about Biden’s handling of the immigration crisis in the city. Adams accused the president of turning a blind eye to the challenges NYC is facing due to an influx of illegal aliens.

In interviews with the Washington Examiner, veterans across the nation expressed their disgust at Biden’s actions. 

Mark Geist, a Marine Corps veteran, said, “I expect the same reverence and compassion from the politicians of this country, especially our ‘leader.’ And when I see the lack of, my heart hurts for I see what we are losing.”  

Victor Marx, also a Marine Corps veteran, echoed Geist’s remarks, emphasizing that Biden’s absence marked a departure from American values.

“By not visiting the sites, President Biden will miss an opportunity to demonstrate his dedication to upholding the values and principles that define our nation, and it may leave some questioning his understanding of the significance of this solemn day in American history,” Marx said.

Notably, Biden did visit the three crash sites on the 20th anniversary in 2021. However, this year, he is set to become the first president since the 9/11 attacks not to visit a memorial site or the White House to acknowledge the tragic incident. 

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., criticized Biden’s decision in statements to the Examiner. “I don’t think Joe Biden has the mental competency to do it himself, but it’s again, one more snub to the American people,” Mills said. “This comes right after being unable to meet on the anniversary of the Afghan withdrawal when his poor decisions led to the making of 13 new Gold Star families.” 

Biden’s snub coincides with Adams’s sharp critique of the president’s handling of the immigration issue in New York City. Adams expressed concerns about the potential long-term consequences of the uncontrolled influx of illegal aliens. “This issue will destroy New York City,” Adams said. 

Shortly after Adams voiced concerns about the influx if illegal aliens in the city, Biden ousted Adams as a campaign surrogate ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

‘Be Prepared’: Dem. Senators Panic Biden Could Be Voted Out in 2024

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‘Be Prepared’: Dem. Senators Panic Biden Could Be Voted Out in 2024

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Concerns are mounting among Democratic Senators as President Joe Biden’s approval ratings continue to plummet, with some fearing the possibility of his defeat in the upcoming 2024 election.  

The stark drop in popularity has left many Democrats worried, even as they strive to rally support against impeachment threats and improved talking points. 

“This election is going to be a fight,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., admitted in an interview with the Hill. “No question it’s going to be a fight and we need to be prepared.” 

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., voiced his apprehension, telling the Hill, “You got to be concerned about those poll numbers, you just do. There’s plenty of time to get them back up. Whether he can or not, I just don’t know, but you got to be concerned.” 

The senators’ remarks come after a CNN poll showed that Biden is in deep waters ahead of 2024. According to CNN’s findings, there is no clear winner in a potential rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is widely ahead in the GOP primary. 

Similarly alarming for Democrats, nearly half of registered voters (46%) expressed preference for any Republican candidate over scandal-ridden Biden in 2024. 

An anonymous senator also echoed these sentiments, attributing the decline in enthusiasm to Biden’s age, saying, “It does pretty much come down to ‘Well, he’s done a pretty good job, but he’s just too old.'” 

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., emphasized the need to address economic concerns. “It’s frustrating,” the Colorado senator acknowledged. “They think inflation is still running away. Inflation has come from 9 percent to 3, now 3.5 percent. It’s, relatively speaking, under control.”  

Biden’s approval ratings have been on a downward trajectory in recent months, primarily driven by concerns over the economy and his age.

Fury Erupts as Rep. Mace Accuses Biden of Bribery, But Opposes Impeachment

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Fury Erupts as Rep. Mace Accuses Biden of Bribery, But Opposes Impeachment

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. faced intense scrutiny for her apparent opposition to the launch of an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.

In an interview with Fox News’s Dagen McDowell, Mace warned that the impeachment articles would not get a conviction in the Democratic-controlled Senate, despite the growing evidence implicating Biden in an alleged bribery scandal. 

“Bribery is one of the bases for an impeachment inquiry or article of impeachment in Article II, Section Four of the Constitution,” Mace told McDowell on Sunday Morning Futures before suggesting that the decision to pursue impeachment should be based on the likelihood of success in the Senate rather than the damning evidence at hand.

“But the problem, Dagen, as you know, is we will never get 60 votes in a Democrat-controlled Senate no matter how much evidence we present,” Mace added. Later in the interview, Mace said the House Oversight Committee and House Judiciary Committee should continue investigating but release the evidence to the public.

Critics were quick to pounce on Mace’s statement. Prominent Twitter account Catturd criticized her, saying, “Talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk – do nothing. – the worthless Republican Party.” Others pointed out that the decision to impeach should be driven by the presence of evidence rather than political calculations.

Political consultant Andrew Beck chimed in, stating, “The best place for the American people to see the evidence is during an impeachment trial. Enough excuses.” Many expressed concerns that without an official impeachment inquiry, allegations against Biden might not receive adequate attention from the media.

In previous remarks, Mace claimed that impeachment talk places the House GOP majority at risk ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

“Every time we walk the plank, we are putting moderate members, members [in Biden-won districts]. We are putting those seats at risk for 2024. We are putting the majority at risk,” Mace said in July during an interview on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream.  

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has taken a different approach, promising to force a House vote on an impeachment inquiry against Biden. This move contrasts with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s, D-Calif., strategy during the Trump administration, where she initiated two impeachment proceedings against then-President Donald Trump.

Biden, along with the support of House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has dismissed the impeachment threats. In an interview with the New York Times, McConnell stated, “Impeachment ought to be rare,” adding, “This is not good for the country.”

Youngkin Pardons Father Seeking Justice for His Sexually Assaulted Daughter

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Youngkin Pardons Father Seeking Justice for His Sexually Assaulted Daughter

(Headline USA) The father of a Virginia student sexually assaulted in her high school bathroom has been pardoned after his arrest two years ago protesting a school board meeting became a flashpoint in the conservative push to increase parental involvement in public education.

Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Fox News Sunday that he had pardoned Scott Smith of his disorderly conduct conviction stemming from the June 2021 incident. The episode featured prominently throughout the gubernatorial campaign that year for Youngkin, who has made support for the parents’ rights movement a cornerstone of his political brand.

“Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who’s faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter,” Youngkin said Sunday in a press release. “Scott’s commitment to his child despite the immense obstacles is emblematic of the parental empowerment movement that started in Virginia.”

According to Loudoun Now, Smith threatened to kick out the teeth of deputies who dragged him away from a Loudoun County School Board meeting over state-mandated protections for transgender students. The local news outlet reported that he’d argued loudly, clenched his fist and sworn at a woman while demanding answers over the handling of his daughter’s assault.

In a statement released Sunday, Smith vowed to pursue legal action against Loudoun County Public Schools and continue fighting “for parents and their children.” The district did not immediately respond to a phone call and email requesting a response.

A trial was scheduled this fall over Smith’s appeal of the disorderly conduct conviction and a circuit court judge had already tossed another charge of obstructing justice. Smith told WJLA that his pardon marked a “bittersweet moment.” He hoped the justice system would absolve him of wrongdoing without the “offramp” of a pardon.

“What happened to me cannot ever happen to another American again,” Smith said in an exclusive interview posted Sunday.

The teenager convicted of assaulting Smith’s daughter was later found guilty of forcibly touching another classmate at a nearby school where the perpetrator was allowed to attend classes while awaiting trial in juvenile court. The case galvanized conservatives nationwide when reports spread that the student — who was assigned male at birth — wore a skirt during the first attack.

Youngkin’s administration has since produced protections for children against such dangers. Model policies posted last fall by the Virginia Department of Education say students use of bathroom and locker facilities should be based on biological sex and that minors must be referred to by the name and pronouns in their official records, unless a parent approves otherwise.

The fallout came last December for the Northern Virginia school district in the Smith case. The board fired its superintendent after a special grand jury accused him of lying about the first sexual assault. The grand jury’s scathing report accused the school system of mishandling the teenage perpetrator and said authorities ignored multiple warning signs that could have prevented the second assault. Administrators failed to sufficiently communicate the risk posed by the student to the new school, according to the report.

The grand jury found a “stunning lack of openness, transparency and accountability.”

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Dems Try to Slip Amnesty for Millions of Illegals into New Bill

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Dems Try to Slip Amnesty for Millions of Illegals into New Bill

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) House Democrats made an attempt to slip an amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants into a year-end Department of Homeland Security funding bill so that the United States would be flooded with illegals even more.

Reps. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, Lou Correa, D-Calif. and Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., filed an amendment to the $91.5 billion DHS funding bill that would make sure that the American Dream and Promise Act will become law.

The reason why Democrats wanted to push the DREAM Act-style amnesty, which has repeatedly failed to pass the House and Senate in prior years, was because it would help in the destruction of the United States by giving green cards and a path to naturalized American citizenship to about 4.4 million illegals in the country, Breitbart reported.

Because of the results that the pro-illegals and pro-open border policies bring, the Heritage Foundation Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center Lora Ries said that conservative Americans should expect Democrats to continue doing it.

“The Left’s tactic: Never let a crisis go to waste, especially an intentional, [Joe] Biden administration-made border crisis, to seek amnesty for illegal aliens,” she said.

Ries even mentioned one of the well-known Democrats who suddenly started sounding like a typical MAGA candidate after his city was flooded with illegals.

“The Left needs to stop treading on Americans with border and national insecurity. Just ask New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New Yorkers, and south-side Chicago residents,” she said.

The attempt to destroy the United States came after Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., failed to get the amnesty through the House and Senate in 2021. Durbin claimed multiple times that he was close to securing the votes he needed to send the bill to Biden for approval.

As expected, some of the nation’s biggest multinational corporations as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed the amnesty. All of these organizations regularly advocated in the past for a constant flow of illegals so that they would be able to turn them into low-wage workers in the labor market.

Among some of these corporations who supported the bill in 2021 were Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Facebook, Verizon, Visa, Marriott International and Apple, among others.

Citizens Sue Over Executive Fiat Violating The Second Amendment

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Citizens Sue Over Executive Fiat Violating The Second Amendment

(Headline USA) New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in and around Albuquerque drew an immediate court challenge from a gun-rights group Saturday.

The National Association for Gun Rights and Foster Haines, a member who lives in Albuquerque, filed documents in U.S. District Court in New Mexico suing Lujan Grisham and seeking an immediate block to the implementation of her order.

The governor, a Democrat, said the 30-day suspension, enacted as an emergency public health measure, would apply in most public places, from city sidewalks to parks.

She said state police would be responsible for enforcing what amount to civil violations and carry a fine of up to $5,000.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, who once served as a Democratic party leader and was appointed by Lujan Grisham, on Saturday joined Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Police Chief Harold Medina saying they wouldn’t enforce the order.

“As an officer of the court, I cannot and will not enforce something that is clearly unconstitutional,” said Bregman, the top prosecutor in the Albuquerque area. “This office will continue to focus on criminals of any age that use guns in the commission of a crime.”

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said he was uneasy about how gun owners might respond.

“I am wary of placing my deputies in positions that could lead to civil liability conflicts,” Allen said, “as well as the potential risks posed by prohibiting law-abiding citizens from their constitutional right to self-defense.”

Medina noted that Albuquerque police made more than 200 arrests of suspects in killings in the last two years. Police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said enforcing the order also could put Albuquerque police in a difficult position with a U.S. Department of Justice police reform settlement.

Levinson told The Associated Press Friday over the phone that Lujan Grisham would draw a court fight, saying the governor was “bumping up against the Second Amendment, no doubt about it.”

“And we have a very conservative Supreme Court that is poised to expand Second Amendment rights,” Levinson added.

Dudley Brown, founder and president of the Colorado-based gun-rights group, called the governor’s action unconstitutional.

“She needs to be held accountable for stripping the God-given rights of millions away with the stroke of a pen,” he said in a statement announcing the lawsuit and request for a restraining order. A court hearing was not immediately set.

The top Republican in the New Mexico Senate, Greg Baca of Belen, also denounced Lujan Grisham’s order as an infringement on the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. Dan Lewis, who serves on the nonpartisan Albuquerque City Council, called the order an unconstitutional edict.

The governor’s order calls for monthly inspections of firearms dealers statewide to ensure compliance with gun laws and for the state Department of Health to compile a report on gunshot victims at hospitals that includes age, race, gender and ethnicity, along with the brand and caliber of firearm involved.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Over 215,000 Illegals Tried to Enter America in August

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Over 215,000 Illegals Tried to Enter America in August

(Bethany Blankley, The Center Square) – At least 215,908 foreign nationals were apprehended or reported evading capture after illegally entering the southwest border in August, according to preliminary Border Patrol data obtained by The Center Square.

This includes at least 187,553 apprehensions and 28,355 gotaways. “Gotaways” is the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection term that refers to the number of people known and reported to illegally enter the U.S. between ports of entry who intentionally try to evade capture and don’t return to Mexico. In August, the most gotaways were reported in the Tucson and Rio Grande Valle sectors. Notably, with most Yuma agents pulled out of the field to deal with an influx of people arriving at open areas of the border wall, gotaway numbers reported by agents last month were extremely low, which is out of the ordinary.

CBP doesn’t publicly report gotaway data. The data was obtained by The Center Square from a U.S. Border Patrol agent who provided it on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. It only includes Border Patrol data and excludes Office of Field Operations data. Total numbers are higher once OFO data is included.

As of September 5, the preliminary data for August in the nine southwest border sectors include:

BIG BEND SECTOR

Apps- 802

TBs- 31

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 114

Unclassifiable Detection- 2

Gotaways Interior Zone- 36

No Violations- 15

Deceased- 1

Outstanding- 5

DEL RIO SECTOR

Apps- 30,989

TBs- 150

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 3,502

Unclassifiable Detection- 66

Gotaways Interior Zone- 580

No Violations- 75

Deceased- 19

Outstanding- 32

EL CENTRO SECTOR

Apps- 2,113

TBs- 302

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 214

Unclassifiable Detection- 0

Gotaways Interior Zone- 0

No Violations- 3

Deceased- 0

Outstanding- 0

EL PASO SECTOR

Apps- 26,381

TBs- 2,999

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 8,724

Unclassifiable Detection- 6

Gotaways Interior Zone- 176

No Violations- 13

Deceased- 12

Outstanding- 0

LAREDO SECTOR

Apps- 3,333

TBs- 4,096

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 1,152

Unclassifiable Detection- 5

Gotaways Interior Zone- 130

No Violations- 81

Deceased- 9

Outstanding- 0

RIO GRANDE VALLEY SECTOR

Apps- 46,913

TBs- 2,191

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 1,538

Unclassifiable Detection- 59

Gotaways Interior Zone- 264

No Violations- 77

Deceased- 6

Outstanding- 20

SAN DIEGO SECTOR

Apps- 19,256

TBs- 428

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 2,811

Unclassifiable Detection- 28

Gotaways Interior Zone- 2,278

No Violations- 11

Deceased- 1

Outstanding- 0

TUCSON SECTOR

Apps- 50,912

TBs- 418

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 5,538

Unclassifiable Detection- 88

Gotaways Interior Zone- 1,204

No Violations- 72

Deceased- 17

Outstanding- 13

YUMA SECTOR

Apps- 6,854

TBs- 85

Gotaways Border Zone (known/recorded)- 88

Unclassifiable Detection- 1

Gotaways Interior Zone- 6

No Violations- 22

Deceased- 3

Outstanding- 0

Of top five stations with the most foot traffic, three were in Texas. By volume, Eagle Pass, Texas, had the most, followed by Ajo, Arizona, McAllen and Rio Grande City, Texas, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, just west of El Paso.

The Eagle Pass station reported 23,378 apprehensions last month, followed by Ajo’s 20,600, McAllen’s 17,167, Rio Grande City’s 15,128, and Santa Teresa’s 12,148. Combined, the busiest stations reported 11,871 gotaways.

Apprehensions refer to those who illegally enter the U.S. and surrender or are caught by Border Patrol agents. Turnbacks refer to those who illegally enter but turn back to Mexico. The gotaway data indicates where foreign nationals are detected illegally entering the U.S., at the Mexican border or farther north in the interior.

Unclassifiable detection isn’t part of 6 U.S. Code, which specifies how encounters are to be reported. It means agents, for a range of reasons, couldn’t determine citizenship. No-violations are individuals “deemed to have committed no infraction and don’t affect Got-Away statistics,” according to the internal tracking system Border Patrol agents use.

The gotaway data is believed to be much higher than reported because it doesn’t include unknown and unrecorded gotaways. With the majority of agents no longer in the field, they are unable to detect how many are getting through. Agents have explained to The Center Square they have no idea how many gotaways there really are in the U.S., who or where they are.

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