Fox News reporter calls out deceptive video edit of his report on Texas shooting: 'You absolute hack'



A Fox News reporter lashed out at a misleading edit of his report that was posted to Twitter to make it appear as if he were spreading an unverified rumor about the horrific mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas.

Bill Melugin, working from the Los Angeles bureau, was incensed at the deceptive editing posted to social media by a former Deadspin and Daily Beast reporter, Timothy Burke.

took about two minutes to repeat an unverified rumor on-air that it was "some sort of border patrol chase" https://t.co/NNFNl7nMzM pic.twitter.com/tKVAlL3gBv
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 24, 2022

The video he posted lasted about 6 seconds and garnered over 322k views.

The full quote from the report completely undermined Burke's accusation.

"There were rumors that were flying around that this was some sort of Border Patrol chase," said Melugin. "I have not heard anything of the sort. I have not confirmed any of that information. I have no reason to believe any of, that those rumors are credible at this moment."

Melugin also ripped into Burke over the video.

"The reason you edited it down to six seconds is because you cut out the part where I shot down these rumors entirely you absolute hack." Melugin tweeted.

The reason you edited it down to six seconds is because you cut out the part where I shot down these rumors entirely you absolute hack. https://t.co/NsMaGv1Wbu
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 25, 2022

While Burke's tweet with the misleading video received only 456 likes and 90 retweets, Melugin's response garnered more than 11.1k likes and 2,166 retweets.

Some on social media conjectured that the shooter, who was later identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, might have been an illegal alien based on the presence of Border Patrol agents at the crime scene. A statement from Homeland Security assistant secretary of public affairs Marsha Espinosa clarified that Border Patrol agents responded to a call for help from Texas law enforcement agents at the shooting.

"Risking their own lives, these Border Patrol Agents and other officers put themselves between the shooter and children on the scene to draw the shooter’s attention away from potential victims and save lives," Espinosa explained.

One report said that a Border Patrol agent had rushed into the mass shooting in order to shoot and kill the assailant.

Here's another report from Melugin in Texas:

Uvalde, Texas shooting victims killed inside single classroomwww.youtube.com

Jen Psaki confirms illegal immigrants are being given smartphones to help ICE track them



White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Wednesday that illegal immigrants are being given free smartphones in order for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to track them more easily.

Psaki appeared to be annoyed by the question from Fox News reporter Peter Doocy on Wednesday during the daily media briefing at the White House.

"Our team in Texas says you guys are starting to give smartphones to border crossers hoping they'll use the phones to check in or to be tracked. Which part of that is supposed to deter people from crossing illegally into the states?" asked Doocy.

"Well I think you of all people, since you've asked a range of questions about this topic over time, would recognize that we need to take steps to ensure that we know where individuals are and we can track and we can check in with them," replied Psaki.

She went on to explain how the phones are used to track the migrants.

"The Alternatives to Detention Program, which is what we utilize, has three unique forms of technology to monitor participants enrolled in the program," Psaki explained. "Telephonic is one of them, which uses a participant's voice to create a biometric voiceprint during the enrollment process. And when the participant has a check-in call, their voice is compared to the voiceprint."

The smartphone giveaway was first reported by reporter Bill Melugin of Fox News who posted photographs of one of the phones being given away to illegal immigrants who had been dropped off in Texas.

"I’m told many of them are given these phones by the government to track them and allow them to communicate w/ ICE, but there’s no way to stop them from being tossed," tweeted Melugin on Tuesday.

Sources tell me w/ parole releases, the migrants are asked to turn themselves into ICE in a city of their choice. I’m told many of them are given these phones by the government to track them and allow them to communicate w/ ICE, but there’s no way to stop them from being tossed. pic.twitter.com/tAogWloQgy
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 5, 2022

The Biden administration is being forced to prepare for what is expected to be a massive wave of illegal aliens and asylum-seekers in the wake of their decision to rescind Title 42, a policy barring many from crossing the border.

Earlier on Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced that state officials would send illegal aliens on charter buses to Washington, D.C., and drop them off at the steps of the U.S. Capitol in protest of Biden's immigration policies.

Here's the video of the White House media briefing:

Jen Psaki holds a White House press briefing | 4/6/22www.youtube.com

Report: Feds mass-released single adult illegal immigrants, mostly men, who were driven by taxi to Texas airport for travel to other US cities



Video caught the moments that numerous single adult illegal immigrants — released from federal custody — were taken by bus to a small, unmarked office in a parking garage in Brownsville, Texas, and then transported by taxi to an airport, where they were headed to other United States cities, Fox News reported.

What are the details?

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin said video recorded Sunday showed several federally contracted buses dropping off dozens of mostly male migrants at the parking garage, which was adorned with black tarps, reportedly to keep the public from seeing the goings-on — as well as a sign reading "Border Patrol drop-off."

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BillFOXLA

The cable network said the migrants re-emerged soon after from inside the office in the parking garage and entered taxis.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BillFOXLA

Fox News said the taxis took migrants to nearby Harlingen Airport. Fox News — which reported that it followed the taxis to the airport — reported that no children or families were among the migrants.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BillFOXLA

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BillFOXLA

Several migrants told Fox they crossed illegally into the U.S. that same morning after paying about $2,000 per person to cartel smugglers and were flying from the airport to cities such as Miami, Houston, and Atlanta.

NEW: We witnessed the federal gov mass releasing single adult migrants, almost all men, at a parking garage in Brownsville. Taxi cabs were then called for them. We followed the taxis to Harlingen airport, where the migrants were dropped off to get on flights around U.S. @FoxNewspic.twitter.com/HcSSwtjMnR
— Bill Melugin (@Bill Melugin) 1643123130

The cable network said single adults usually are expelled via Title 42 public health protections, which were established under former President Donald Trump. But President Joe Biden's administration isn't applying Title 42 to unaccompanied children or most migrant families, Fox News said.

What did the city have to say?

The city of Brownsville told the cable network that its Office of Emergency Management, through federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been facilitating "the transfer of these migrants to their final destination by allowing them to use services to contact their families, NGOs, or a taxicab."

The city also confirmed that the parking garage is a staging area where migrants are given travel information to "facilitate their transfer to their final destinations," Fox News said, adding that migrants also can receive health screenings there.

What did the feds have to say?

Customs and Border Protection told the cable network it wasn't involved in the release. And while Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News it was looking into the matter, an ICE source who viewed the recorded video said it's believed it was indeed an ICE release.

Anything else?

The report came as CBP officially released its December border numbers that showed 178,840 encounters in December, which Fox News said is a higher number than the three previous Decembers combined (175,353).

The cable network added that the Biden administration is re-establishing the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols in response to a court order that found dismantling the program is unlawful.

More than $100 million in unused border wall materials left to rust by Biden administration



More than $100 million worth of construction materials are going to waste in Texas after President Joe Biden canceled the remaining federal contracts to build a wall on the southern border.

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin said Monday there is enough steel to construct more than 100 miles of border wall, but only 14 miles were built before construction was stopped when Biden took office.

A Fox News air crew captured footage of an estimated 10,000 steel panels intended for the wall that have gone unused since January. Each panel is worth about $5,000, and they are just sitting in Pharr, Texas, turning to rust, Melugin reported on "America's Newsroom."

NEW: What does it look like to not build the border wall? Our drone is overhead in Pharr, TX at one location where… https://t.co/lQKGUNp1Ou

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1633959795.0

"Upwards of $50 million just sitting there, going to absolute waste. Keep in mind, taxpayers have already paid for this. It's bought and paid for and nothing is happening with it," he said, adding that a second location with similar steel panels brings the total value of the unused materials over $100 million.

Fox News video shows the incomplete border wall in La Joya, Texas, where Melugin reports only half a mile of wall was built and migrants are crossing over the border freely.

"Basically, it's useless," he said. "We watch these migrants just walk around it all the time. It's not doing anything, and the border agents out here are having to run around left and right as runners are constantly coming through."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that border wall construction in the Laredo and Rio Grande Valley sectors of Texas would be canceled. The termination of these federal contracts is in accordance with Biden's order to return funds President Donald Trump diverted from other federal agencies to build the wall back to the agencies from which they came. The Trump administration diverted over $10 billion in funding from military projects and other sources to build the wall.

The DHS said in a statement that Customs and Border Protection will now "begin environmental planning and actions consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act for previously planned border barrier system projects located within the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and El Centro Sectors."

"These activities will not involve any construction of new border barrier or permanent land acquisition," DHS said.

Border agents say a physical barrier like the wall is necessary to create choke points where federal law enforcement can focus manpower and scarce resources to secure the border.

"Border agents tell us they really need the wall here," Melugin said. "They're incredibly frustrated."

Suspected cartel members wearing tac vests and wielding AK-47s 'taunting' Texas National Guard troops near US-Mexico border: report



Individuals believed to be cartel members wearing tac vests and carrying AK-47s have reportedly been taunting Texas National Guard troops near the U.S.-Mexico border in recent days, the Texas Department of Public Safety said this week.

The suspected cartel members are reportedly involved in the smuggling and trafficking of migrants who are seeking entry into the United States.

The news provides a snapshot into the danger and difficulty that both National Guardsmen and Border Patrol agents are facing as they try to manage the crisis at America's southern border, which continues to spiral out of control.

Last month, in response to the Biden administration's continued failure to defend the border, Texas law enforcement stepped up to proactively address the situation by deploying National Guardsmen and state law enforcement officials to the border region near Del Rio. Now it appears some of those deployed are under threat.

"In multiple instances over the past several days, Texas DPS tells me suspected cartel gunmen involved in human smuggling have stood in [and] near the Rio Grande in Starr County and taunted TX National Guard soldiers," Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin tweeted Wednesday.

NEW: In multiple instances over the past several days, Texas DPS tells me suspected cartel gunmen involved in human… https://t.co/B1NbQbRQWO

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1633529418.0

In a subsequent statement to Fox News, the Texas DPS vowed to fully investigate any potential threats against law enforcement or military personnel at the border.

"The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to securing our southern border under the direction of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott," the statement read. "We continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds in order to make real-time decisions and will adjust operations as necessary.

"As we work closely with the Texas Military Department, any potential threats toward law enforcement and the Texas Military Department will be fully investigated, and those responsible will be arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law," it added.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has been fiercely critical of the Biden administration's handling of the migrant crisis, denouncing President Biden and his senior officials for drawing unprecedented numbers of migrants through open borders policies only to leave border states and towns to defend themselves.

"President Joe Biden has caused a humanitarian crisis and chaos on our border," Abbott said at a news event Wednesday, joined by 10 fellow Republican governors.

But criticism has not only come from Republicans. Democratic border Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) warned earlier this year that Biden's lax illegal immigration enforcement measures could end up emboldening drug cartels.

"You just can't say, 'Yeah, yeah, let everybody in' — because then we're affected down there at the border," Cuellar said. "The bad guys know how to market this."

UPDATE: FAA temporarily grounds Fox News drone after it captures viral images of thousands of migrants at border; Ted Cruz reacts: 'Ridiculous,' 'never seen anything like that'



Update 9/17/2021, 2:40 p.m. ET: The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday afternoon that Fox News was cleared to fly a drone over Del Rio, Texas, after previously announcing flight restrictions in the area. "Fox News applied this morning and has received clearance to operate from now until the end of September in the restricted airspace linked below," the FAA said.

The Federal Aviation Administration authorized a flight restriction at the U.S. southern border shortly after images of thousands of migrants taken by a Fox News drone went viral.

On Thursday morning, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin shared on Twitter a photo taken by a drone.

"Our drone is back over the international bridge in Del Rio, TX," the popular tweet read. "Per source, the number of migrants waiting to be processed has now swelled to approx 8,200. It was 4,000 yesterday AM. Doubled in one day. BP overwhelmed, & I'm told situation is 'out of control.'"

BREAKING: Our drone is back over the international bridge in Del Rio, TX. Per source, the number of migrants waitin… https://t.co/wJCWABa6Al

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1631797429.0

However, less than 12 hours later, Melugin reported that the FAA had implemented a two-week flight restriction in the area where thousands of illegal immigrants were congregating.

"We've learned that the FAA just implemented a two week TFR (Temporary Flight Restrictions) over the international bridge in Del Rio, TX, meaning we can no longer fly our FOX drone over it to show images of the thousands of migrants," the reporter stated.

Melugin said the FAA instituted the flight restriction because of a "special security reason."

Melugin noted, "Fox News has been covering the border nonstop for almost 7 months now, we use the drone constantly, and it has never been an issue."

NEW: We’ve learned that the FAA just implemented a two week TFR (Temporary Flight Restrictions) over the internatio… https://t.co/oWIwSSUF2j

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1631837420.0

The FAA issued a statement on Thursday evening, "The Border Patrol requested the temporary flight restriction due to drones interfering with law enforcement flights on the border. As with any temporary flight restriction, media is able to call the FAA to make requests to operate in the area."

On Friday afternoon, the FAA provided clearance to Fox News to fly in the area.

"Fox News applied this morning and has received clearance to operate from now until the end of September in the restricted airspace linked below," the FAA stated.

. @FoxNews applied this morning and has received clearance to operate from now until the end of September in the re… https://t.co/t9REwuneD5

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) 1631899330.0

Melugin appeared on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," where he said, "It has never been an issue. All of a sudden, the last 24 hours, we start showing these images at this bridge and a TFR goes up [and] we can no longer fly."

He told host Tucker Carlson, "Unfortunately for those agents on the ground, they are completely overwhelmed. They need some serious help right now, and hopefully, they get it from the federal government."

Melguin said the throng of migrants swelled to over 10,000 at the Del Rio International Bridge.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it is dedicating more resources to the overwhelmed Del Rio Sector.

"The Border Patrol is increasing its manpower in the Del Rio Sector and coordinating efforts within DHS and other relevant federal, state and local partners to immediately address the current level of migrant encounters and to facilitate a safe, humane and orderly process," CBP said in a statement. "To prevent injuries from heat-related illness, the shaded area underneath Del Rio International Bridge is serving as a temporary staging site while migrants wait to be taken into USBP custody."

"Drinking water, towels, and portable toilets have been delivered for migrants to use while they await to be transported to a facility," CBP said.

FAA restricts Fox drone after showing images of migrant surge www.youtube.com

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) confirmed the large number of illegal immigrants at the border bridge in a post on Twitter, which he described as a "Biden Border Crisis."

"10,503 illegal aliens are under this bridge tonight because Joe Biden made a political decision to cancel deportation flights to Haiti," Cruz wrote. "The Border Patrol is over capacity. It's indefensible, it's inhuman, and it was entirely caused by Biden & Harris."

Cruz posted a video of the massive crowd under the bridge, where he blamed the "man-made crisis" on the Biden administration.

"This is the result of a political decision," Cruz said. "This is the result that is indefensible. What we are seeing here, this is wrong. This is inhumane and this is entirely caused by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris."

10,503 illegal aliens are under this bridge tonight because Joe Biden made a political decision to cancel deportati… https://t.co/PfSFn9nJnY

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) 1631848768.0

Cruz called the flood of migrants at the border "the most horrific thing I've ever seen" during an appearance on "Hannity."

"It is packed in, it is a mass of humanity and it is, the scope of it, until you see it, they take your breath away because it just goes on and on and on. Infants, little children, people struggling enormously," Cruz told host Sean Hannity.

"Eight days ago on Sept. 8, under that same bridge, there were between 700 and a thousand people. That is what was coming a day, about a thousand, sometimes 1,100, but it would range between 700 and 1,100," Cruz said. "Then, eight days ago on Sept. 8, the Biden administration made a political decision. They announced that they were no longer going to fly deportation flights back to Haiti."

Cruz claimed that "85% of the people under there are from Haiti."

Regarding the FAA flight restriction near the bridge in Texas, Cruz said, "Really is ridiculous, I've never seen anything like that."

"The drone footage started this morning and people across the country were horrified, and I guess the political operatives at the Biden White House saw that and decided the last thing they want is Fox News actually reporting on what's happening down here," Cruz surmised.

"So, now the FAA is saying please, no journalists allowed," the Texas Republican added. "As you know, they did the same thing in the Donna tent facility in the Rio Grande Valley, where they wouldn't allow Fox News to come in when I brought 19 senators to the Rio Grande Valley, I had to go in with my cell phone and photograph and take videos."

Cruz addressed the issue of illegal immigrants, who may be COVID-positive, crossing the border.

"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are absolute hypocrites," Cruz declared. "Those 10,000 people there, do you know how many Border Patrol has tested? Zero. Not a one. They don't have the capacity to do that."

Sen. Ted Cruz blasts the FAA for blocking drone footage at 'horrific' Texas border www.youtube.com

Texas Gov. Abbott shuts down points of entry at the border over massive encampment of illegal aliens



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has ordered several points of entry at the border shut down after thousands of illegal aliens encamped under a bridge while awaiting refugee processing.

"The sheer negligence of the Biden administration to do their job and secure the border is appalling," read the emergency statement from Abbott.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the shaded area under the International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas, was being used a temporary staging site in order to "prevent injuries from heat-related illness."

Some estimates of the encampment put the number of migrants at about 4,000 on Wednesday, but officials told Fox News the group could have swelled to as many as 8,200 on Thursday.

"I have directed the Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard to surge personnel and vehicles to shut down six points of entry along the southern border to stop these caravans from overrunning our state," Abbott continued.

"The border crisis is so dire that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting our help as their agents are overwhelmed by the chaos," Abbott added. "Unlike President Biden, the State of Texas remains committed to securing our border and protecting Americans."

Drone video from Fox News showed border agents trying to attend to the thousands of migrants.

Law enforcement source on the ground at the bridge this morning just sent me this video showing the situation there. I'm told a large majority of the migrants are Haitians and more are crossing into the US and arriving at the bridge by the minute. BP w/ limited manpower @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/dHWCrhFikq
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) September 16, 2021

Telemundo reported that many of the migrants were from Haiti and that they said they were trying to escape violence, povertym and natural disasters in their home countries. Some reported being abused and extorted for money by Mexican law enforcement officials.

Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano said in a video on Facebook that there were as many as 20,000 other migrants on the way to the city.

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) told Fox News the situation in Del Rio was "gut-wrenching" and dangerous.

"The sheer amount of people, it's like getting hit by a 2x4," he said. "You think you're in a third-world country, and this is the United States, this is Del Rio Texas, and there is literally no border at all — it's just been muddied over."

Gonzales blamed the Biden administration for removing restrictions on applications for refugee status set by the former Trump administration. He said that Haitian migrants took this as a sign to go to the U.S. to seek entry.

And he warned that it would not stop at Texas.

"These folks, they're not staying in Texas," said Gonzalez, "they're literally going to every city, they're going to Miami, they're going to Chicago, they're going to New York City, San Francisco, they're going to a neighborhood near you and it impacts everybody."

Here's a local news report about the encampment:

VIDEO: Thousands of migrants crowded under bridge in Del Riowww.youtube.com

New photos show another overcrowding situation at migrant detention center in Donna, Texas



Illegal immigrants detained by the Biden administration at a center in Donna, Texas, are being held in cramped, overcrowded holding cells, new photographs and video footage reveal.

The conditions are reminiscent of the crisis situation in March, when the Washington Post reported that the administration was detaining thousands of minors and unaccompanied children in cells for longer than was legally permissible. The detention facility in Donna is one of the places where migrants apprehended by Customs and Border Protection are processed before either being expelled from the country or released.

Images obtained by Fox News show migrants being held in overcrowded "pods" as they await processing. A Border Patrol source said there are currently 5,300 migrants in custody with 40-60 individuals being held in each pod. Each pod is only supposed to hold 10 people to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

NEW: @FoxNews has obtained exclusive new images from Border Patrol’s processing facility in Donna, TX, showing over… https://t.co/XIr7zrtqpZ

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1628279629.0

Video shows the cramped conditions as well:

Illegal immigration has surged again in recent months, overwhelming communities at the border and leading to calls from local officials for the Biden administration to send additional resources to handle the large number of border crossers.

Border Patrol agents encountered more than 200,000 migrants at the southern border in July, smashing records.

President Joe Biden's policy is that single adults and some migrant families apprehended by Border Patrol are to be expelled from the United States under Title 42 health protections to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. But according to Fox News, the administration faces difficulties because Mexico refuses to take back certain families with young children.

In some cases, families are released into the U.S. and told to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office at their destination, though not everyone shows up.

Unaccompanied children are transferred to the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, which currently is taking care of more than 14,000 children and teenagers who if possible will be released to parents or guardians who are already in the United States.

On Thursday alone, more than 800 children were apprehended at the border and 612 of them were released to HHS. "Overall, there was an 8% increase in UAC encounters between May and June, and a 25% increase of migrant family encounters," Fox News reports.

Many migrants are testing positive for COVID-19, creating concerns that the large volume of people being held together and then released into the country might contribute to the spread of the Delta variant.

Without a change in policy, there is no indication that the surge of illegal immigration will slow down.

Report: 'Mass releases' of thousands of illegal immigrants happening in Rio Grande Valley over the weekend



Thousands of illegal immigrants were encountered by overwhelmed Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley over the weekend and are being released and handed bus tickets to wherever they'd like to go in the U.S., according to a reporter.

Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin reported Monday that local Border Patrol stations near McAllen, Texas, are "585% over capacity" and that there are "mass releases" of illegal immigrants underway.

Another Fox News reporter, Griff Jenkins, added that in the last 24 hours border agents in the Rio Grande Valley had 3,002 encounters with illegal immigrants and that the total number of law enforcement encounters with migrants over the weekend was 8,144.

NEW: Per DHS sources, local Border Patrol stations in McAllen area are currently 585% over capacity and there are “… https://t.co/CJI8CeuWKr

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1627915178.0

Record numbers of migrants are seeking illegal entry into the United States. According to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who represents parts of the Rio Grande Valley, Department of Homeland Security agents encountered over 180,000 illegal immigrants at the southern border in July, after encountering 188,829 migrants in June.

Our DHS agents, & border communities, are overwhelmed & must be prioritized. DHS will again encounter over 180,000… https://t.co/9DJMQhIlhq

— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) 1627771354.0

More than 1.1 million migrants have crossed the U.S. border in the current fiscal year, overwhelming the Biden administration's immigration enforcement agencies.

The surge of migrants is so large that thousands of migrants are being released after detention without being given a date to appear in court and have their immigration cases processed.

The crisis is hitting particularly hard in Cuellar's district, where local officials are pleading with the Biden administration for "immediate and decisive action" to provide more resources for DHS agents in the Rio Grande Valley as well as "the immediate cessation of admissions of additional immigrants."

TheBlaze reached out to DHS for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

On Sunday, Melugin posted drone video footage of "up to 1,000" migrants being held by Border Patrol under the Anzalduas Bridge in Mission, Texas, near an area of the Rio Grande river that's popular for border crossings.

Great work and Incredible footage @BillFOXLA - add to it - in the LAST 24hrs, RGV had 3,002 encounters - an increas… https://t.co/EYlxgw1G2G

— Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) 1627905052.0

After these migrants are apprehended by Border Patrol, they are being released to a Catholic charity that's providing them with food and shelter before they are given bus tickets or air tickets to travel to other places in the U.S., Melugin reports.

"Large groups of migrants being walked to McAllen Central Bus Station by a local Catholic Charity after they were dropped off & released by Border Patrol. This is happening every hour. Migrants are given bus tickets wherever they want to go," Melugin said.

Nonstop mass drop offs from Border Patrol here at the charity. @FoxNews https://t.co/ImjTMlpfns

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1627917970.0

The charity, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, have been assisting the migrants with humanitarian aid but they too have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people being sent to them by Border Patrol. The problem is exacerbated by the threat of unvaccinated, COVID-19 positive migrants being released from detention into American communities where they may spread the virus.

Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced he would deploy the Texas National Guard to help federal agents apprehend illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border.

Horowitz: The parole of murderers and the silencing of victims



George Gascon, the new Soros-backed district attorney in Los Angeles, promised "the lowest level of intervention for the criminal justice system." That quite literally means letting murderers out of prison.

In 1991, Howard Elwin Jones was convicted of murdering two teenagers at a party. Jones, a known gang member, should have received the death penalty, but because he was just shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the murders, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison. After Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 260 into law, most juvenile murderers became eligible retroactively for parole after 25 years.

In the past, eligibility for parole didn't mean automatic release, especially for convicted murderers, but now with prosecutors in major cities acting like defense attorneys, it is making it a lot harder to keep denying them parole at their biannual hearings. After being denied parole in 2015 and 2017, constantly making the victims' families relive the experience over and over again, Jones was granted parole earlier this year and will be released next week. Thus, while his victims will remain teenagers in the grave forever, Jones now gets to live a normal life and is only 50 years old.

So, what changed this time at the parole hearing? According to KTTV-TV's Bill Melugan, George Gascon has barred all prosecutors in the DA's office from attending parole hearings, much less advocating on behalf of the victims' families, even in the worst cases. Dianne Baker-Taylor, the sister of one of Jones' victims who was forced to attend the hearing alone, told KTTV that Jones didn't even express remorse. "It's isolating, you feel alone, you don't feel like you have anybody in your corner," she said.

According to Baker-Taylor, Governor Gavin Newsom never replied to her plea against the release of Jones, and the only correspondence the family ever got from the state was the letter of notification that Jones would be released.

The granting of parole then went through a 120 day review period, which included Governor Newsom’s review. Dianne… https://t.co/Z1ZcEMVqZL

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1622651548.0

The entire criminal justice system is designed to advocate on behalf of the criminals while shafting the victims, yet the politicians still think the criminal justice system is too punitive for criminals.

Since his election last year, Gascon announced numerous changes to the office, including that his prosecutors would no longer charge any juvenile as an adult or seek the death penalty for any murderer. He also stopped filing enhancement charges for gang members or those with multiple prior felony convictions.

The results have been devastating. According to L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who now has to deal with the fallout from Gascon's policies, every major crime category is up significantly over this time last year. In May 2021, the county experienced a 95% increase in murder, a 7% increase in rape, a 13% increase in aggravated assaults, a 40% increase in grand theft auto, and a 22% increase in arson incidents, compared to May 2020.

Most people are following the recall election against Gov. Gavin Newsom, but the recall against Gascon is likely to make a bigger impact. In the case of the gubernatorial election, it's quite unlikely that a Republican will unseat Newsom in California. But a successful recall election against Gascon in L.A. County would likely trigger the emergence of another Democrat who is more friendly to law enforcement and victims of crime, similar to the prior prosecutor Gascon unseated in a runoff election last year. Recall organizers have until October 27 to gather 580,000 signatures, a goal they are confident they will exceed.

Republicans would be stupid not to latch onto the crime issue and use it as a cudgel in suburban neighborhoods in all 50 states. While California usually leads the nation in pro-criminal trends, the movement to parole some of the worst criminals is endemic of many other states. Virginia's parole board has released dozens of murderers, as has the state of Massachusetts.

However, the political jailbreak of violent prisoners is not just in blue states. Utah has a crisis of hundreds of violent criminals being paroled, while parole officers are becoming reluctant to reincarcerate them after they violate the terms of parole. A KUTV report from Wendy Halloran discovered that Terence Trent Vos, one of the most notorious gangsters in Salt Lake City, who was serving time for drive-by shootings, aggravated assaults, robberies, and weapons violations, was granted a rare form of compassionate release in 2020 because his daughter was murdered by her own mother. Now his girlfriend is dead, allegedly murdered by Vos in May.

It took just five weeks for Vos to wind up back in prison after he was caught drunk driving. But then COVID hit, and like other red states, Utah released a bunch of criminals including Vos. When parole officers attempted to visit Vos on a routine follow-up, they could not make contact with him but did find bullet holes in Vos' home. The officers never followed up on the suspicious activity, nor did they issue a warrant for his arrest after they failed to make contact with him for months.

On Jan. 30, 2021, Vos' girlfriend pressed charges after he allegedly beat her severely in a restaurant. By that point the system had failed, and the ankle monitor they gave Vos turned out to be worthless. Police later found the body of Vos' girlfriend, Shandon Scott, in a car on Interstate 80 on May 1.

Just this week in allegedly conservative Fort Wayne, Indiana, Cohen Bennett Hancz-Barron, 21, was arrested for the gruesome murder of a woman and three children. Local media report that the suspect had a robbery conviction for which he was sentenced in February to six years in prison, but was allowed to serve all of the sentence at home! Just two months later, police filed a "notice of escape" and a warrant for his arrest, but as always it was too late. They could not locate him before the murder.

Now imagine a country with tens of thousands more people like him out on the streets, supposedly being monitored by parole officers, thanks to criminal justice deform. Do you feel safer?

The only question now is when all the "conservative" governors who joined the Soros DAs and blue-state governors in promoting de-incarceration will realize their failed social experiment is destroying the country.