A proposed new series in the Criminal Minds franchise was announced in January 2015, and was to be named Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. Gary Sinise and Anna Gunn had been cast in the lead roles of Jack Garrett and Lily Lambert, with Tyler James Williams and Daniel Henney being cast as Russ "Monty" Montgomery and Matthew "Matt" Simmons, respectively.
On May 8, 2015, CBS announced that Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, has been picked up for the 2015–16 season, however, it was soon announced that Gunn had departed the series,[1] with Alana de la Garza and Annie Funke further being cast as series regulars.[2] The season was originally intended to premiere on March 2, 2016, but was pushed back by two weeks and instead premiered on March 16, 2016, and filled the Wednesday 10:00pm time slot, airing immediately after the original Criminal Minds. The episodes, while produced in a certain order, are not aired in that way.
When three American citizens volunteering in Thailand go missing during a trek to Bangkok, the IRT works with former colleague Clara Seger to profile and apprehend the unsub before a major storm system washes away the evidence.
When an American college student vacationing in Mumbai, India wakes up with both a kidney and a best friend missing, the IRT suspects that the person responsible for the crimes is perhaps up to more than selling organs on the black market.
The International Team heads to Cairo, Egypt when an ex-U.S. serviceman of Egyptian-American descent is killed in a gas attack and his best friend is abducted.
The team travels to Tokyo, Japan to help the local officials investigate what is believed to be a set of homicides, made to look like suicides and three of those victimized are Americans. Meanwhile, Mae tries to encourage Clara to get out more and enjoy herself.
When a couple on their honeymoon is believed to have gone missing in San Pedro, Belize, Jack and the team are called out to their last known location to investigate what is believed to have been a targeted abduction of the couple.
When a retired couple from Idaho are kidnapped in Casablanca, Morocco while visiting the country on a cruise, the IRT is asked to help save the couple before it's too late.
The IRT travels to Mexico when a woman vacationing there with her family is the victim of foul play. The team starts to investigate her husband as a prime suspect when he suddenly flees.
An American girl has gone missing when she travelled to Antalya in Turkey to meet whom she was led to believe was her boyfriend; it is discovered that the person behind this is using a ruse to abduct American girls.
The IRT head to Johannesburg, South Africa when an American college student working there is killed and his brother goes missing. The team suspect a gang could be behind both. Meanwhile, Jack works the case with a profiler he's worked with before who has an unorthodox style of investigation.
The IRT travel the island nation of Cuba to search for possible spree killers after American victims are found in different locations throughout the island.
The IRT heads to Pamplona, Spain when the ears of a missing American tourist are found during the country's the running of the bulls festival. The team speculates that the crime is politically motivated.
When the young daughter of an American family visiting Port-au-Prince in Haiti is kidnapped, the IRT rushes to the island nation to help rescue her before it's too late. Also, Jack and his wife, Karen (Sherry Stringfield), prepare to send their teenage daughter, Josie, off to college with one big celebration.