EXCLUSIVE: Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens expresses his enthusiasm for incoming Trump border czar Tom Homan leading deportations and enhancing border security. He also highlights the threat posed by violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as one of the country’s top concerns.
Owens, who assumed the role of chief last year, spoke to Fox News’ Griff Jenkins in his first post-election interview in San Antonio, Texas. When asked about Homan’s appointment, a former Border Patrol agent and former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Owens shared his excitement.
“I’m excited because Tom Homan is a fellow Border Patrol agent. He has served his time in this uniform, and I am excited to witness any member of our agency succeed,” he mentioned. “I am eager to witness his contributions.”
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Migrants at the southern border encountered in Arizona. (U.S. Border Patrol)
“The deportations and interior enforcement serve as consequences for not adhering to our laws and entering our country through legal means,” Owens explained.
There has been tension between Border Patrol agents and the Biden administration regarding the management of the crisis at the southern border. The Border Patrol union has criticized the administration and supported the Trump campaign during the presidential election.
Owens took over as chief during a year that witnessed record encounters at the southern border. He mentioned that dealing with the past four years at the border has been draining for agents. Recent numbers have decreased significantly, partly due to a proclamation limiting asylum by President Biden in June, but it remains uncertain if these low numbers will persist.
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Owens cautioned about cartels adapting their strategies to overcome new obstacles, including improved technology. He identified fentanyl and the violent Venezuelan migrant gang Tren de Aragua as two primary threats on the agency’s radar.
“TdA poses a significant threat to us,” he stated. “Together with fentanyl, they are among the most pressing dangers to our nation.”
The gang has been connected to numerous high-profile crimes across the U.S. and has extended its criminal operations to various states, such as Colorado, where it reportedly controls several apartment complexes.
Owens also highlighted the uncertainties faced by agents, including 250,000 individuals who have escaped apprehension at the border.
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“We must ensure they use the front door. The unknowns and intentions worry me the most, along with other law enforcement and border security professionals. Why are they avoiding legal entry? What are their potential harmful plans for our nation and people?” he expressed.
He noted the challenge of vetting migrants from countries without diplomatic ties, making it harder to identify individuals entering the U.S. He admitted that the fear of failing to capture incoming threats keeps him up at night.
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“My biggest concern is failing to succeed, knowing that for every missed person or drug shipment, lives are forever altered, and in some cases, lost. None of us want to witness that,” he concluded.
