Border Patrol’s new chief patrol agent in Miami vows crack down on human smuggling

MIAMI – There’s a brand new chief patrol agent for U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami Sector headquarters, arriving from the Texas-Mexico border throughout a surge in maritime migration from Cuba and Haiti.

The U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami Sector safeguards 1,200 miles of coastal border with six Border Patrol Stations all through the state of Florida.

Chief Walter “Neil” Slosar, an El Paso, Texas native, involves the Miami Sector from the El Paso Sector, the place he served because the Appearing Deputy Chief Patrol Agent. As Chief Patrol Agent of Miami Sector headquarters, Slosar oversees all U.S. Border Patrol operations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Native 10 Information reporter Christina Vazquez sat down with the brand new chief about what efforts are underway to cease human smugglers, who he says put the lives of migrants in danger.

“The felony organizations that overload these vessels sacrifice the security of the migrants for the sake of income,” Slosar mentioned.

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Associated Hyperlink: One & Solely Unique: First line of protection — U.S. Customs’ Air and Marine Ops maintain coastal borders protected.

Video reveals greater than 350 folks from Haiti crammed on a ship that ran aground within the Florida Keys earlier this 12 months.

A girl in a yellow shirt could be seen wiping the sweat from her forehead as a youngster straddles an open cabin window.

Fortunately, all survived.

Associated Hyperlink: Boat carrying a whole bunch of Haitian migrants makes landfall in Key Largo

“They’re simply standing room solely on these boats, not sufficient water, not sufficient life preservers,” Chief Patrol Agent Walter “Neil” Slosar mentioned. “It’s a large tragedy simply ready to occur.”

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Slosar is coming to South Florida from the El Paso sector at a time when federal information paperwork what we will see alongside our shoreline — an uptick this fiscal 12 months in suspected smuggling occasions.

Most of the latest migrants are from Cuba and Haiti.

“There are specific occasions which can be occurring of their nation which have led to folks wanting to go away,” Slosar mentioned, including that smugglers wish to benefit from these folks.

“Our primary concern is preservation of human life,” he mentioned.

With expertise on America’s southwest land border, Slosar says our huge shoreline presents a singular problem.

“What are a few of the variations operationally?” Vazquez requested.

“Alongside the southern border, I can simply look over. There isn’t a water the place I’ve been at,” Slosar mentioned. “I can have conversations with communities on the south facet and this facet.”

“There’s a huge physique of water in between us, so it extends the border to a wider border space we’re ,” he added. “Within the southwest border, it’s at all times we’re going to enter right here, we’re going to transit out of the realm, however Florida is a vacation spot space … I’m positively trying to have interaction internationally simply to have a safer border surroundings.”

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Slosar mentioned he may also be sure that medical and security checks are occurring.

A method he’s doing that’s by taking to Twitter, posting updates, footage and video.

“So that folks perceive the hazards happening,” he mentioned. “I’ve truly seen it resonate in different nations. Folks in different nations are retweeting that message. It’s a highly effective factor to witness.”

Slosar is making an attempt to get his message to these contemplating the damaging journey that smugglers place revenue, he says, above the worth of human life.

“And don’t promote every little thing you personal, as a result of in case you are encountered, we’re going to apprehend you, know who you might be, put you within the course of and fairly probably you’re going to be faraway from the nation,” he mentioned.

A brand new border patrol marine unit of highly-trained vessel operators is laser-focused on recognizing proof of human smuggling. “Much like engaged on a freeway, sure issues will increase our suspicion,” Appearing Division Chief Adam Hoffner mentioned. “Some vessels might be a international flight vessel (and we’ll) examine these.”

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“Traditionally, we’ll see vessels overloaded,” he added.

And whereas South Florida’s geography could also be totally different from our nation’s southwest land border, Slosar highlights a continuity in technique in combatting the cruelty inherent to human smuggling operations.

“Are there any methods you noticed work very well on the land border that may be utilized right here?” Vazquez requested.

“Intelligence-driven operations after which partaking with our companions in different nations so we will stem or have extra situational consciousness of what’s coming throughout the border,” Slosar mentioned. “Don’t wish to see anybody dropping their life. It’s a harmful, harmful journey.”

On April 18, Slosar posted on Twitter that on this fiscal 12 months “brokers have responded to 91 maritime smuggling occasions which have made landfall in Florida.”

That features these suspected maritime smuggling occasions within the Florida Keys because the begin of March by means of April 18, 2022:

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· March 1: 12 Cuban migrants

· March 6: 356 Haitian migrants (of these, almost 200 went into Border Patrol custody; the remaining had been processed by means of the Coast Guard for repatriation to Haiti.)

· March 9: 29 Cuban migrants

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· March 10: 10 Cuban migrants

· March 12: 17 Cuban migrants

· March 14: Approximately 140 Haitian migrants

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Associated Hyperlink: About 140 Haitian migrants land in Florida Keys

· March 15: 123 Haitian migrants

· March 17: 16 migrants

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· March 18: 10 migrants

· March 19: 15 Cuban migrants

· March 20: 10 Cuban migrants

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· March 21: 28 migrants

· March 24: 8 migrants

· March 24: 15 migrants from Cuba

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· April 1: 6 Cuban migrants; “during the search, one person was found deceased.”

· April 2: 15 Cuban migrants

· April 4: 77 people apprehended in the Florida Keys from 4 different countries.

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· April 15: 8 migrants “in 2 separate events originating from Cuba.”

· April 17: 11 Cuban migrants

· April 18: 22 Cuban migrants

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In response to U.S. Coast Guard information, their crews from the beginning of the fiscal 12 months in Oct. 1 to March 14 have rescued 1,193 Haitians in comparison with:

· 1,527 Haitian migrants in fiscal 12 months 2021

· 418 Haitian migrants in fiscal 12 months 2020

· 932 Haitian migrants in fiscal 12 months 2019

· 609 Haitian migrants in fiscal 12 months 2018

· 419 Haitian migrants in fiscal 12 months 2017.

In response to U.S. Customs and Border Safety, “Slosar formally entered on responsibility on this capability on February 27, 2022, and succeeds Chief John Modlin, who lately transferred to the Tucson Border Patrol Sector because the Chief Patrol Agent.”

The U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector works in partnership with native, state and federal regulation enforcement companies to disrupt transnational felony operations.

To report suspicious border exercise in Florida, name 877-772-8146.