(Patriot.Buzz) – In a stroke of luck underscoring the need to reinforce our southern border even further, Border Patrol caught a person who has ties with a criminal Colombian group.
Specifically agents caught Oscar De Leon-Ramirez in Texas’ El Paso area when he was illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. He was trying to get into the country alongside seven other individuals from Colombia and El Salvador.
After the National Targeting Center gave the agents a heads-up about De Leon-Ramirez’s suspected history of “terrorist activities” he confessed he was linked to the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), which is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
“During post-Miranda interview, De Leon-Ramirez readily admitted to having crossed the U.S./Mexico International Boundary illegally … Furthermore, De Leon-Ramirez admitted that in 2004/2005 he voluntarily enlisted in the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC),” said the memo.
It also mentioned, “De Leon-Ramirez stated that some of his duties as AUC member were to patrol the mountainous rural areas of Istmina, Colombia locating guerrilla members of the FARC (Fuerza Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) and other entities involved with extortion and trafficking in Colombia.”
De Leon-Ramirez is now facing criminal charges in the Western District Court of Texas.
The U.S. put the AUC on the terrorist group’s list in 2001 but removed it in 2014 since the organization called it quits in 2006. However the Congressional Research Service reported that some members branched off to keep trading drugs and violating human rights.
Additionally the Congressional Research Service noted that the AUC was known for its brutal attacks on those who supported Colombia’s leftist guerrillas.
In response to the De Loen-Ramirez’s arrest a Department of Homeland Security official who wanted to stay anonymous said, “The border is open. Wide open. Don’t believe the media. Don’t believe the White House. Arm yourself, protect your homes and your families because this joke of an administration isn’t doing anything,” the official said.
CBP stats show that Border Patrol agents detained 50 individuals on the terror watchlist from October to December, 172 in fiscal year 2023 and 98 in fiscal year 2022. From 2017 to 2021 there were 30 such encounters.
