Border Patrol agents apprehended a group of 1,036 illegal immigrants Wednesday making it the largest group ever. President Trump shared the news on Twitter Thursday saying, “Yesterday, Border Patrol agents apprehended the largest group of illegal aliens ever: 1,036 people who illegally crossed the border in El Paso around 4am. Democrats need to stand by our incredible Border Patrol and finally fix the loopholes at our Border!” Video footage also shows the overwhelming group crossing the U.S. Mexico border where there appears to be little to no barrier.

Yesterday, Border Patrol agents apprehended the largest group of illegal aliens ever: 1,036 people who illegally crossed the border in El Paso around 4am. Democrats need to stand by our incredible Border Patrol and finally fix the loopholes at our Border! pic.twitter.com/6K1rIUzorM — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019

Earlier this week, Border Patrol agents in Del Rio, Texas apprehended 15 illegal immigrants from Congo Tuesday, according to a CBP press release. The release said the group taken into custody at Eagle Pass Station in Del Rio, TX consisted of five adult males, five adult females, and five minor children.

“Our Border Patrol agents are facing more unique challenges every day as the number of family units from different regions of the world continue to increase,” said Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Randy Davis in an official statement.

According to the press release, the group will now undergo criminal history checks.

National Security Implications

In FY2019, so far, CBP has apprehended 23,000 people from countries other than Mexico, according to CBP data. Several count growing concern for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which lists illegal immigrants from Congo as Special Interest Aliens, or SIAs. SIAs pose a greater national security risk because their origin countries are hotbeds for terroristic activities.

Earlier this year, Investigative reporter Sara Carter encountered two SIAs from Bangladesh making their way on foot across the U.S. Mexico in McAllen, TX. Bangladesh is on the SIA list because of al-Qaeda and Islamic State activities within. Carter spoke with law enforcement officials there who told her it wasn’t an anomaly. According to the report, 1500 SIAs were apprehended just in 2018.