Amid a sharp rise in migrants at the U.S. border, the Tucson Sector of the Border Patrol has decided to halt its social media activity until further notice. Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin made this announcement as the agency is overwhelmed with the ongoing migration crisis.
In a tweet, Chief Modlin stated, “All Tucson Sector Border Patrol social media accounts will be paused ‘until further notice’ in light of the ongoing migration surge.”
He also expressed gratitude to the public stating, “We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time. Honor First.”
This decision comes on the heels the sectors largest border crossing this past week which reported an unprecedented 15,300 illegal border crossings, marking a historic high.
Alongside this surge in unauthorized entries, the sector also seized a substantial 117 pounds of fentanyl, initiated 78 federal criminal cases, conducted 17 rescues, uncovered 14 human smuggling events, and encountered three narcotics events.
Notably, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin voiced concerns about the suspension of social media outreach. In a tweet, Melugin said, “Regardless of the reasoning behind this – this is such a bad look. Essentially – the border crisis in the sector is so bad that they’re going to cut off all communication and transparency with the public.”
He emphasized the importance of the information shared through these accounts, calling the move “unacceptable.”
The Tucson Sector, responsible for a vast stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, has long had to deal with a high number of daily illegal crossings, averaging between 2,000 to 2,500 incidents. These crossings come from various parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Fox News Digital has sought a response from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide further insight into the implications of this pause in social media communication with no response at time of publication.
Recognizing the implications of this frankly un-American move by the agency, Modlin put out a series of followup tweets to explain his actions.
Claiming the need to beef up staffing for the next wave, Modlin said they are cutting off social media to “maximize our available staffing in support of our current operational challenges.”
Modlin went on to say, “all available personnel are needed to address the unprecedented flow. The social media team will return once the situation permits.”
Given the numbers from the Tucson Sector Border Patrol last week, suspending social media, essentially the agencies transparency to the public, is fraught with controversy and implication.
What exactly does the social media team contribute in actual field operations? What is coming in this next wave and why is the government trying to hide it?
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