In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, eight illegal immigrants have been arrested in eastern Tennessee for looting homes in an area already ravaged by floods and mudslides. The looters took advantage of the chaos and destruction, preying on vulnerable American citizens who were struggling to recover from the disaster. These arrests highlight the urgent need for stricter border control, ensuring that criminals like these don’t exploit crises for their gain.

Five of the men have been charged with aggravated burglary after breaking into occupied homes, leaving victims traumatized and even more vulnerable. Authorities have identified them as Albin Nahun Vega-Rapalo, David Bairon Rapalo-Rapalo, Kevin Noe Martinez-Lopez, Marvin Hernandez-Martinez, and Dayln Gabriel Guillen Guillen. Each man faces serious charges for taking advantage of those suffering from the natural disaster.

Three other men, identified as Jesus Leodan Garcia-Peneda, Josue Berardo Ortis-Valdez, and Ersy Leonel Ortis-Valdez, were caught looting unoccupied structures, taking what little remained from flood-affected homes and businesses. These arrests have intensified scrutiny of the current border crisis, as critics argue that this is precisely why the U.S. needs to maintain stricter immigration controls.

Stephen Miller, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, criticized the Biden-Harris administration, stating, “Kamala [Harris] and [Joe] Biden don’t have the resources to rescue Americans, but they do have the resources to import migrants to loot them.” The lack of a strong border policy, according to critics, has enabled criminals to enter the country and prey on Americans when they are most vulnerable.