Texas authorities arrest about 10,000 immigrants

Texas authorities have arrested nearly 10,000 immigrants who illegally crossed the US-Mexico border as part of a “arrest and imprisonment” operation aimed at deterring illegal immigration.

After the successful arrests, the state of Texas passed a new law that will strengthen the smaller process to expand the authority to conduct arrests, as well as give local judges the power to issue orders to expel immigrants from the country, with these measures taking effect next March.

The new law comes after Texas first launched a smaller-scale operation to arrest immigrants on misdemeanor trespassing charges in July 2021 as the number of border crossings between Texas and Mexico reached 1.2 million that fiscal year.

The initiative allows border land owners to enter into agreements with the state that allow for trespassing arrests, paving the way for law enforcement to arrest immigrants who enter the United States through those properties.

The arrests are being led by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which said the state's border operation led to the arrests of more than 37,000 people.

Department spokeswoman Erica Miller said those arrested include gang members, human traffickers, sex offenders and others.

Mexico's president praises reaching "important agreements" with the United States on immigration

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced Wednesday that "important agreements" had been reached on immigration and other issues after holding high-level talks with US officials.

Lopez Obrador praised the results of his talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Mexico City, with the aim of "directly addressing issues of economic cooperation, security and migration." 

“Important agreements have been reached for the benefit of our two peoples,” Lopez Obrador wrote on the “X” platform, without providing additional details.

He added: "Now more than ever, a good neighborly policy is essential." 

Blinken and Mayorkas' visit to Mexico after Christmas highlighted the interest that US President Joe Biden is paying to finding solutions to combat increasing migration. 

Republicans in Congress are pressuring the White House to take a tough stance on immigration as a condition for them passing bills to support Ukraine, which is a priority for the Biden administration. 

In recent weeks, US Border Police have reported the crossing of nearly 10,000 migrants daily.

The period between October 2022 and September 2023 witnessed a record number of 2.4 million interceptions of migrants, including at official entry crossings along the southern border.