Grand Forks, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – The Grand Forks sector of U.S. Border Patrol is intensifying its focus on illegal immigrants who may pose threats to national security and public safety, and officials say the public is playing a key role in identifying these individuals.
In a recent targeted enforcement operation, six individuals originally from Mexico and Ecuador were apprehended during a traffic stop, according to Border Patrol Agent David Marcus. All six are now in removal proceedings.
The operation, conducted with assistance from local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was highlighted in a July 7 social media post by the agency.
According to Cora Koproski, strategic communications specialist, targeted enforcement efforts focus on those “known to have criminal records and pose a threat to the community and country.”
“Right now, what we’re mainly focusing on is those people who are threats to national security and public safety,” said Marcus.
Although some of the arrested individuals had criminal records, not all did, Marcus noted. The identities of the six individuals have not been publicly released, and it remains unclear if any will face criminal charges beyond immigration violations.
Marcus also acknowledged that citizenship status can go undetected during court proceedings, which is why ICE often steps in toward the end of a person’s sentence to begin removal preparations.
While the agency remains tight-lipped about how suspects are flagged, Marcus and Koproski emphasized that community tips play a vital role in operations.
“A lot of times, the public acts as a force multiplier to our agency,” Koproski said. “A lot of our operations begin with what people observe — suspicious activity, vehicle incursions, and more.”
The Grand Forks sector continues to ramp up surveillance and enforcement in cooperation with local and federal partners, urging the public to stay alert and report unusual activity.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.