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Texas law enforcement reported nearly 50,000 border crime arrests statewide in 2023, according to the latest data from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The annual report highlights that 80% of these arrests took place in just 20 counties, with major urban areas leading the list, The Center Square repored.
Harris County, home to Houston, recorded the highest number of arrests at 8,621.
Authorities say Houston serves as a primary entry point for illegal border crossers and a hub for cartel and gang-related activity.
Following Harris County, the highest arrests were reported in:
Dallas County – 6,247
El Paso County – 3,245
Tarrant County – 3,144
Hidalgo County – 2,611
Other counties with significant arrests include Travis (2,300), Bexar (1,717), Collin (1,520), Denton (1,313), and Cameron (1,171).
Surprisingly, only five of the top 20 counties with the most border crime arrests are actually located along the Texas-Mexico border.
Most arrests occurred in large metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, known as transit hubs for drug and human trafficking operations.
Texas DPS recorded 46,793 arrest offenses statewide in 2023. The most frequent charges included:
Traffic violations and DWIs – 12,338
Assault – 8,122
Drug-related offenses – 4,043
Obstructing law enforcement – 3,365
Larceny (theft-related crimes) – 3,160
Federal violations – 2,708
Public order offenses – 1,617
Human trafficking and smuggling – 1,251
Invasion of privacy – 882
Burglary – 753
Weapons-related crimes – 740
According to Texas DPS, border crime has statewide impacts, as illegal activities involving criminal non-citizens affect public safety across Texas.
Under Texas law, a border crime is any offense involving transnational criminal activity that threatens public safety and is committed by an individual who:
1. Is not a U.S. citizen or legal resident
2. Is engaged in crimes connected to activities in Mexico
Border crime arrests only account for individuals identified as illegal foreign nationals through fingerprint verification by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
However, the DPS report does not include all arrests of undocumented individuals, as some arrestees’ fingerprints may not yet be in DHS records.
The DPS report compiles data from 1,401 law enforcement agencies through Texas’ Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program.
The data covers offenses reported between January 1 and December 31, 2023, with updates through March 30, 2024.
Texas law requires DPS to submit an annual border crime report to the state legislature.
Officials emphasize that the participation of law enforcement agencies in the UCR program is crucial for ensuring accurate crime data.
