AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) — On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed what his office describes as critical border security legislation. This comes after Abbott signed at least five other bills aimed at strengthening border security since the start of the latest legislative session. That session is now at a close, so this is expected to
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Migrants in Juarez who recently arrived at the border and who do not want to stay at local shelters have started to camp at El Chamizal, next to the Bridge of the Americas. Other migrants have been seen at the Ysleta Port of Entry and at the Paso del Norte Bridge,
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — One of the best known migrant shelter along the border has a new director. The former leader, Father Javier Calvillo, served for over 13 years. Father Francisco Javier Bueno Guillén will replace Calvillo as the head of the shelter. He has been serving there for two years. Juarez’s bishop Guadalupe Torres
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The House of Representatives Homeland Security Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee is holding a hearing Monday. They will be “examining DHS’ failure to prepare for the termination of Title 42.” Witnesses include Benjamine “Carry” Huffman, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection and Blas Nuñez-Neto, Assistant Secretary for Border
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Since the end of Title 42 on May 11, unlawful entries along the southern border have decreased 70% from their record highs, according to statistics released by the Department of Homeland Security this morning. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has averaged 3,400 US Border Patrol (USBP) encounters in between ports of
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UPDATE: Alvarado and Zuniga were not the only two migrants who booked into the room they were staying in, according to police. They said a family from Mexico was also part of the group that checked into the same room at the motel. Police said the investigation found that the family has since moved to
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KVIA) — Homeland Security Investigations agents in El Paso say nine accused human smugglers were indicted May 18. Jose Luis Avalos, aka “El Gordo” is the accused leader of the smuggling operation, according to officials. Avalos, as well as his wife, Kristina Hardin, are from El Paso and were arrested in the
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SACRAMENTO, California (KVIA) — California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta say the migrants arrived by private jet without prior arrangement. Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) is a religious group that received the migrants. The organization says the group of migrants come from Venezuela and Columbia and entered the U.S. through El Paso.
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Officials detained a Venezuelan national accused of starting a fire inside a Juarez migrant detention center that killed 40 people and injured 28 others. Mexican officials say the suspect was arrested Friday. The fire started March 27 inside the National Migration Institute. Investigators identify the man only as Carlos N. The
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Diocese of Juarez organized a mass in support of migrants in the city, calling for support and empathy. The morning mass was conducted by Juarez’s Bishop José Guadalupe Torres Campos in celebration of Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of migrants. During the homily, the Bishop encouraged Juarez and Borderland
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Anthony “Scott” Good tweeted that agents stationed in Las Cruces helped rescue five migrants earlier this week. Migrants Rescued! Vigilant #LasCruces agents at an immigration checkpoint responded to a 911 distress call from lost migrants. Agents utilized drone technology to locate 5 migrants
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The city of Juarez certified city hall as a smoke-free space this World No Tobacco Day. The city wants to spread awareness among teenagers and young adults of the dangers of tobacco use. The State’s Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks certified Juarez’s city hall on Wednesday, making it one of
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SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) — Sunland Park Fire Chief Daniel Medrano told ABC-7 that his department has seen a rise in search and rescues over the last month. Chief Medrano says those operations are usually in the desert area just outside of Sunland Park. One person was hospitalized after being rescued in the desert
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — A week after the city of Juarez set up a new migrant camp, some migrants are still staying in this new facility located a few feet away from the Stanton Port of Entry. Last week, Juarez officials reported over 240 migrants stayed at the camp in the first days and only
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — ABC-7 has learned the county of El Paso is working with Los Misioneros bus company to transport migrants to other parts of the U.S. According to officials, the local bus company has transported approximately 2,400 migrants to Houston so far. Last week, the company chartered 57 bus rides to Dallas. On Wednesday,
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The famous Juarez fair will kick off this Thursday, May, 25 and it will run until July 9. A new feature the Feria this year is that the second half of the fair will take place in a new, different location. From May 25 to June 18, the fair will be
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DONA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico (KVIA) — A Sunland Park man is facing a felony count of human smuggling. Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested 39-year-old Joshua Lee Ward and transferred him to the Dona Ana County Detention Center May 24. Officials charged Ward with “Smuggling Illegal Aliens,” according to the latest jail records. Dona Ana County
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVIA) — El Paso’s congresswoman, Veronica Escobar, held a news conference on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday morning. Escobar addressed the ongoing migrant crisis and the introduction of the Dignity Act of 2023. “Decades of poorly addressing our immigration system, actively shrinking legal pathways, and failing to get beyond paralyzing gridlock have
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Migrants who were still camping outside of Juarez’s city hall were asked to move to a new facility created by the city on Monday afternoon. The plan was to have these migrants move to a more secure location, with food and cleaner surroundings compared to the circumstances they were living in
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Department of Public Safety state trooper pursuits of suspected smugglers happened at an exponentially greater rate in El Paso in 2023, according to data obtained by ABC-7. There have been more than 5,000 pursuits involving Texas DPS state troopers since the inception of Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — More Mexican troops are expected to arrive along the border in the following hours to enforce security and safety measures and coordinate with local authorities. According to El Diario de Juarez, the approximately 350 troops arriving in Juarez will work with members of the Mexican National Guard, doing ride-alongs and security
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Two people have been rescued this morning from the canal. The rescue occurred at Loop 375 and Midway, in the Lower Valley. The call came in at 2:21 a.m. Border Patrol Requested fire officials for help in the water rescue. Both people were taken to the hospital and are recovering
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DONA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico (KVIA) — 31-year-old Kyra Workman is facing human smuggling charges, according to Doña Ana County Detention Center records. Jail records show Workman was taken into custody by deputies with the U.S. Marshals on Wednesday and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond. The Aurora, Colorado resident is
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An updated emergency driving and vehicular pursuit policy from U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now in effect. The letter from the acting commissioner, Troy A. Miller, says the updated policy does not prohibit vehicular pursuits, but the policy “restricts pursuits in certain circumstances that are considered especially dangerous and
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested 25-year-old Dominic Montoya on human smuggling charges Wednesday, according to Dona Ana County Detention Center documents. According to the criminal complaint filed against Montoya in federal court, the alleged human smuggling took place on April 5, 2023. The document states that Border Patrol agents patrolling
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested 25-year-old Dominic Montoya Wednesday. He was taken into custody at the Federal Court House. The Las Cruces resident is charged with “Smuggling Illegal Aliens,” according to Dona Ana County Detention Center documents. Montoya is facing federal charges in this case. He is being held at
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(CNN) — An 8-year-old girl died while in US Customs and Border Protection custody in Harlingen, Texas, the agency said Wednesday. The girl and her family were in custody at a CBP facility when she “experienced a medical emergency,” the agency said in a news release Wednesday night, without providing details. “Emergency Medical Services were called
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — One downtown business owner told ABC-7 that business has severely decreased since Title 42 expired. Jesus Solano, a downtown business owner, said in a message to ABC-7, “It’s been very slow since last week. Basically, we went back to normal or maybe a little slower.” There have been less and
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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — After a body was found in the canal on the U.S. side Wednesday night, Juarez authorities spoke Thursday about how they prevent drownings. With the number of migrants trying to cross the Rio Grande and Franklin canal growing, Juarez’s Civil Protection Department says the crossings become more dangerous in the summer,
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El Paso, Texas (KVIA) — Motivated by faith and kindness, Crystal Sandoval, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Las Americas Immigrant and Advocacy Center, extends a helping hand to migrants seeking asylum in the United States. I had the opportunity to sit down with the Borderland native. I asked her what motivated her to help families
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