U.S. Border Patrol announced this week that it has apprehended more than 5,000 individuals labeled as “criminal aliens” during Fiscal Year 2025. The agency’s public statement broke down only a small portion of the offenses—listing 12 for homicide, 414 for assault, 575 for drug possession, 245 for burglary or robbery, and 82 for sexual offenses.
That accounts for just over 1,300 cases, leaving nearly 4,000 offenses unspecified.
The lack of detail raises questions about the seriousness of the majority of offenses included in the figure. Federal law defines “criminal aliens” as non-citizens with any criminal conviction, which can include minor infractions such as illegal entry (a misdemeanor for first-time offenders), fishing license violations, or other non-violent offenses.
While the agency stated that “every criminal alien we catch proves why zero gotaways must be the goal,” it did not clarify how many of the apprehensions involved violent crimes or posed direct threats to public safety. A more detailed breakdown has not been released.
U.S. Border Patrol Photo
Texas Reporter 