Explore every episode of the podcast Immigration Crisis: The Fight for the Southern Border

In an exclusive interview, Chief Jason Owens shares insights after announcing his retirement from the Border Patrol.

Today, the Border Sheriffs Coalition sent a letter to Governor Abbott, urging him to name Chief Owens as the new Border Czar. This comes as the current Border Czar, Michael Banks, has been tapped by the Trump administration to lead the Border Patrol.

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Beth Watkins, a legal trailblazer and former Justice of the Fourth Court of Appeals, joins us to discuss one of Texas' most urgent legal challenges. Elected in 2018, she authored over 600 opinions with a remarkable reversal rate of under 1%. Before her judicial career, she led more than 200 appeals in state and federal courts, earning Board Certification in Civil Appellate Law in 2008.

In the second part of our interview, Justice Watkins offers insight into the legal complexities of Operation Lone Star and the migrant detention crisis, focusing on Kinney County, where criminal trespass arrests caused a surge in appeals, overwhelming the court’s capacity.

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A video showing a Border Patrol agent allegedly kneeing a K9 at the Falfurrias Checkpoint has gone viral, sparking widespread outrage online.The footage, which surfaced last week, depicts the agent appearing to place her knee on the dog multiple times.

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A legal powerhouse who has profoundly impacted Texas law joins us this week—former Justice Beth Watkins of the Fourth Court of Appeals. Elected in 2018, she has authored over 600 opinions and maintained an impressive reversal rate of less than 1%. Before joining the court, she led more than 200 appeals in both state and federal courts, earning Board Certification in Civil Appellate Law in 2008.

As Texas deals with complex legal challenges surrounding Operation Lone Star and the ongoing controversy over migrants being detained for extended periods without due process, Justice Watkins brings unique insights into how the state’s appellate courts are navigating these high-stakes issues. We’re honored that she joined us for another edition of Immigration Crisis the fight for the Southern Border. 

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A federal judge in Texas made a big ruling about funding for the border wall and what the Biden Administration can and cannot use it for.

This latest ruling says the Biden administration can’t sell any materials intended for the border wall and can’t assign funds that Congress dedicated to border wall construction for any other purposes.

This lawsuit was originally filed by Texas and Missouri in 2021, and a judge sided with them in May.

In December, both Attorneys General filed a complaint after pictures of border wall pieces up for auction went viral.

Screenshots of the government surplus website GovPlanet showed wall materials up for auction with bidding starting at five dollars.

Those listings have since been taken down.

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We delve into the complexities of the U.S.-Mexico border, where perspectives from the American side are often limited. To truly understand the realities, one must sometimes cross over.

We highlight the courageous work of journalists on the Mexican side, who risk their lives to report the truth. Among them is John Ritchie of ImpactoVision, who broadcasts live from the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas. Ritchie balances empathy for migrants with criticism of illegal crossings and the dangers some face, including bringing children on perilous journeys.

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In this week's Texas Border Watch, Jordan Elder looks into how many miles of border wall have been completed in the last few years and the hurdles Texas faces in completing the project. We'll also show you the new billboards Gov. Greg Abbott is rolling out in other countries to deter illegal immigration. Meanwhile, Canada is investing $1.3 billion to bolster border security amid tariff threats.

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Terrell County is a remote area 120 miles west of Del Rio where Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland and his small team work tirelessly to secure over 2,400 square miles of rugged terrain. As the “Smuggler’s Moon” brings increased border activity, we witness firsthand the challenges law enforcement faces, from tracking migrants left by coyotes to combating limited resources. Locals, like café owner Jake Harper, share how border security impacts their lives. Sheriff Cleveland reflects on decades of struggle and his hopes for change as President-elect Trump prepares to take office.

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A government surplus company called GovPlanet recently listed pieces of the border wall for auction. These auction posts, which have since been removed, fueled debates about why border wall materials weren’t set aside for future use or new construction.

President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to continue building the wall, publicly condemned the sales of unused pieces during a Monday press conference.

"I'm asking today, Joe Biden, to please stop selling the wall," Trump said. "The administration is trying to sell it for five cents on the dollar, knowing that we're getting ready to put it up."

But the federal government is actually required to sell these excess pieces, and the process started months ago. The Department of Defense told media outlets that it must use, transfer, or donate all excess wall construction materials because of the National Defense Authorization Act.

The official said that the materials were divided up, with 60% going to authorized recipients like Texas, California, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The other 40% was sold to GovPlanet back in June, so the pieces that were up for auction no longer belong to the government.

The DoD says Texas did request some of those materials and later received them.

MORE: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/immigration-crisis-podcast/texas-hits-roadblock-in-plan-to-purchase-border-wall-parts-at-auction

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Are all migrants and asylum seekers who enter the US through the southern border really going north? We speak with Pamela Allen, the CEO of Eagle’s Flight Advocacy, who is experiencing a surge in families seeking essentials like diapers, food, and clothing, reflecting a possible shift in migration trends. Allen also tells us that there is concern about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and their illegal activities here including human trafficking which she has seen firsthand. Adding to concerns is that the gang’s tentacles are now in at least 17 states.

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Yami Virgin investigates the state of immigration along the southern border as large migrant groups are expected ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s term. Over the past five months, border crossings have averaged 200-300 daily in the Del Rio area, with overall numbers declining since President Biden’s June executive order restricting asylum for unlawful crossings. These measures, paired with provisions for unaccompanied children and trafficking victims, have provided a reprieve for shelters like Mission Border Hope. On-the-ground insights and what lies ahead for migrants and those working at the border, as well as a generous gift from the Texas Land Commissioner for the incoming administration.

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We hear what the new Border Czar, Tom Homan, told soldiers and DPS troopers in Eagle Pass just before Thanksgiving. We also examine the new border buoys placed in the Rio Grande, which mysteriously disappeared shortly after their installation. Additionally, we question whether National Guard members are violating policy by using Pepper Ball Launchers on migrants, including families with babies and toddlers.

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A new command post has been built because of the shifting access points along the border between Texas and Mexico. We talk about renewed security concerns with individuals on the terror watch list caught crossing into Texas.

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The new Biden executive order is sending back thousands a day to Mexico. For many of those, the option is now to pay coyotes to sneak them into the US in dangerous situations. 

We spoke to the Sheriff of Bexar County, which includes the city of San Antonio, about a recent trafficking incident that could have gone wrong. We also spoke to Craig Larrabee, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations out of San Antonio, about the role HSI takes when they respond to Human Trafficking cases.

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The immigration crisis at the Texas border will again be front and center in the news. One of the remote areas along the border that is extremely treacherous and has seen a number of migrants cross through it is Tarrell County. We spoke with the Sheriff of Tarrell County to get a better picture of what he has seen the last couple of months.

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Sheriff Thadeus Cleveland has the 10th largest county on the US-Mexico border. Up until a few months ago he only had 3 deputies. His jail can only house 7 inmates and all have to be of one gender since they cannot co-mingle. Cleveland tells us about the new Texas law that is now the hot potato making the rounds in the legal system to the Supreme Court and how it will affect his county.  

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They are called “Tren de Aragua” a gang that is known throughout Latin America. The Venezuelan prison gang was mostly in Ecuador and Chile but with the migration pattern to the US now they are being seen here in the US. Who are they and just how violent can they be?

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They are working a ridiculous amount of hours, but now they will be able to collect overtime pay. We speak with Congressman Henry Cuellar. And more money for border bridges to keep the flow of commerce coming into the US. 

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How has Eagle Pass, population 35,000, handled hundreds of thousands of migrants being released in their city? We speak with Valeria Wheeler, the Executive Director of the migrant processing center Mission Border Hope. The non-profit continues to move migrants out of the border town with the help of the state of Texas busses. Wheeler also manages to feed migrants three meals a day during their stay with the organization. We ask how she manages the flow of migrants with no warning of what is coming.

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A report shows there are more than 170,000 migrants whom the US has no idea where they are. We speak with retired Homeland Security Investigations Agent in-charge Ari Jimenez as to how this has been allowed to happen.

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As the cartels diversify their money flow from drugs to human smuggling, they are also said to be using bombs and other weapons left behind in Afghanistan. We speak to the former head of Homeland Security Investigations Ari Jimenez about the new explosive situation.

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An exclusive ride-a-long with the Texas DPS Brush Unit. Lt. Noe Fernandez is our guide as they search for migrants that have entered under the radar, instead of presenting themselves to authorities seeking asylum. During the night we not only see the hard work, but we also see the emotional side of helping save migrants from the hands of gun-wielding Coyotes or smugglers.

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We sit down and have a very honest conversation with the retired Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in South Texas, Ari “Harry” Jimenez. Jimenez shares with us the reality that while there are recent reports of Lebanese, Syrians, and Iranians showing up at the border, this has been going on for years. Jimenez is also frank when we asked how concerned he is that there will be another 9/11.

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The special session called by Governor Greg Abbott now includes border security issues. Among those who will be at the special session will be State Representative Eddie Morales, who represents the district that runs from Eagle Pass to El Paso. Morales speaks about the difficulties trying to find a solution to protect our border.

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The surge is on and State Representative Eddie Morales, whose district goes from Eagle Pass, the epicenter for the immigration crisis, to El Paso, says Texas needs to think out of the box to deal with the problem. What’s his solution? Charge them $2,000.  

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He has a $78 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, yet he can’t get a visa for his Venezuelan parents to come see him play. His attorney explains why her client's case is now being used as an example of why the Biden Administration’s humanitarian parole is needed for Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans and Nicaraguans. This while 21 states say this program is putting the responsibility of paying for them on their citizens.

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Around 1,500 National Guard troops from Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Oklahoma are helping support Operation Lone Star in Texas. So the governors of those states were invited by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to see firsthand what their guard members have been doing. We caught up with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Oklahoma’s Governor Kevin Stitt during their tour in Eagle Pass, Texas.

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We speak with the first Democrat delegation to travel to Eagle Pass, Texas to see firsthand the governor’s actions to protect the border. Many Republican delegations have traveled to this area of the border in the past, so the trip by Democrats, led by San Antonio Representative Joaquin Castro, was long overdue according to some.

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The Battle of President Biden against Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the farm has the sovereign right of the state to protect itself from this immigration wave at the border. But for Magaly Urbina, who owns the property with her husband, this is her land that has been illegally taken over by the governor because both Democrats and Republicans can’t work with each other for a solution. 

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Amidst reports of a DPS trooper’s email alleging that superiors ordered them not to give water to migrants and to push them back in the Rio Grande, we go to Eagle Pass and speak to migrants at Mission Border Hope. But the allegations are ones that DPS is vehemently denying this week. They tell us what the orders are for all troopers. 

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Dangerous heat, scamming coyotes, and sexual assault. And now a warning from border patrol.

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The expectations for the end of the policy “Title 42” left a lot of fear for some in the US. Others were left with the duty to take care of the migrants who are legally allowed to remain in the US while their asylum cases make their way through the court system. 

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“It will be a wave not seen before,” according to retired Special Agent in-charge of Homeland Security Ari Jimenez. Title 42 is due to end in May, so what is being done along the border to prepare? And how are Republicans and Democrats using immigration to fire up their bases? 

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More than 30 sheriffs descended on the Texas Rio Grande Valley to plan and hear from them what may come when Title 42 is lifted on May 11th. See why Idaho Sheriff Kieran Donahue considers himself a border sheriff.

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Valeria Wheeler is used to having to help thousands of immigrants a week in a tiny 8,000 square foot space. Now Wheeler is preparing for the numbers Border Patrol is expecting to be as high as 5,000 to 6,000 a day when Title 42 ends in May.

She tells us how she plans to take care of so many in the new shelter Mission Border Hope will open soon. 

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Small Non-Profit on the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas is getting ready for what the end of the policy known as Title 42 will mean for them. Mission Border Hope in 2022 helped 144,000 asylum seekers after they were processed by Custom and Border Protection. The Executive Director Valeria Wheeler talks about the changes and what she type of help she needs. 

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They went to Mexico for a friend’s cosmetic procedure and ended up losing their lives. What former Homeland Security agents say will happen after four Americans were kidnapped and two ended up losing their lives. 

Will the call from legislators to declare cartels Foreign Terrorist Organizations pass in Washington DC?

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It’s a 1200-acre ranch about an hour south of San Antonio. The ranch has been run by this family since 1949. But with the increase of human smugglers coming through the Texas border, this family ranch is seeing an increase in trucks crashing through their fences, letting livestock out, and leaving them with a sense of not being secure in their own property. 

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41 lives have been claimed by a bus accident in Panama which carried 66 migrants on their way from Panama and Colombia to the border between Panama and Costa Rica. Among those who are officially on the list are two men from Cameroon whose families are here in the U.S. As they wait to hear if they are among the unidentified patients in a government hospital - or if they are among the dead, we hear firsthand why they left Cameroon.

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We speak with ex-congressman Will Hurd about the vetting process for Russian asylum seekers arriving at the southern border. Hurd also shares why comprehensive immigration proposed laws won’t move while Democrats and Republicans continue to play political games.

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It’s the day a Russian couple has been waiting for. The day of their asylum appointment to enter into the US through Brownsville. With their 13-year-old little Yorkie, they waited for hours on the Gateway Bridge between Matamoros and Brownsville. But the trip wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Along the way, they also found a non-profit that was charging $3,500 per person to “help” them by “using their influence” with CBP to have their paperwork done quickly. This is according to what the couple said.

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The state of Texas will pay $224 million to a contractor who built part of the border wall which a federal report now says is failing. Why residents of El Cenizo and Rio Bravo in Webb County, Texas now say they feel disrespected by their own state.

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The change in policy made by the Biden Administration allows Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians, and Venezuelans to enter the US, but they must have a sponsor. We speak to a Guantánamo Bay Cuban American who says she will not sponsor anyone now. And her warning for those who are going to sponsor and those who want to come to the US.

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We speak with an 18-year-old victim of a stash house. He explains what he went through, while Homeland Security make a call for action. 

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President Biden is heading to El Paso. His immigration policy speech and why the Supreme Court is calling congress out when it comes to Title 42. And Congressman Henry Cuellar talks about the reality of change in DC when it comes to immigration. 

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We travel between Eagle Pass and Del Rio talking to both Maverick and Val Verde County Sheriffs in the second epicenter of the immigration crisis - the Del Rio sector for Border Patrol.

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On December 21st, just a few days before Christmas when many people cross the border with Mexico for the holidays, the Title 42 health policy will end. That’s the policy used during Covid 19 to control the number of people coming into the US through the Mexico/US border. We speak with Del Rio sector Chief Jason Owens and retired Chief and former acting Director of ICE Ronald Vitiello.

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It was 45 days after the June incident that claimed the lives of 53 immigrants, or so we thought. We speak to the head of a San Antonio non-profit who made the horrific find just feet away from where the 18-wheeler was found. And clashes between Venezuelan migrants and authorities in Juarez. Plus, the end of the capital murder trial of a border patrol agent found guilty of killing sex industry workers in Laredo.

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On December 21st, Title 42, the trump era policy which kept asylum seekers from coming into the U.S. and kept them in Mexico, will end. But what does that truly mean legally? Immigration attorney Amy Maldonado, who specializes in employment immigration cases and represents Major League Baseball teams, gives us her opinion. 

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