Migrant Surge: A day on the job for a Border Patrol agent in El Paso

Hundreds of migrants cross the border every single day in El Paso and that number continues to rise. Other agencies are stepping in to help the federal agents.

ABC-7 rode along with a Border Patrol agent to see the situation up close.

Minutes into that ride along, a call for help comes from another agent who has a group of about 30 migrants.

On their way there, the responding agent encounters three more groups of migrants walking the border, including two women with children.

Agent Carlos Antunez told the group to keep walking about 100 more yards. That’s where the group of 30 migrants was already being processed by a Border Patrol agent.

“I’ve been walking 6 days. We’re from Guatemala,” a migrant told ABC-7, “Where were from, there are hills and mountains. The land doesn’t allow itself to cultivate, so there is no money. I have to go somewhere else.”

Agent Antunez told ABC-7 that within the last 30 days, the average number apprehensions are about 938 per day.

Antunez said Border Patrol is overwhelmed and they simply do not have enough resources, but they are getting help from other agencies through the Stone Garden program.

“It’s funding that comes down from the federal government to assist agencies along the border,” said Antunez.

That includes El Paso Police, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the National Guard.

“They’re our eyes in the sky. They make sure, when we are busy with groups, thery’re watching our back,” said Antunez.

A source told ABC-7 the Department of Public Safety is also helping, but Agent Antunez could not confirm.

ABC-7 reached out to DPS for an answer, but they have yet to get back.