Segundo Barrio residents claim ‘migrants’ are emerging from manholes

EL PASO, Texas -- Some El Paso residents who live in the Segundo Barrio say they have witnessed suspected migrants coming out of sewage tunnels and manholes.

Rosalinda Tapia, told ABC-7 she has lived in the area her entire life. She said she has never witnessed anything like what she has seen in recent weeks.

She believe the individuals who come out of the manholes are migrants. She said this activity has been happening for the past two weeks.

"They are not using the river anymore. They are using the water tunnels to come in," she said.

Tapia says she has witnessed multiple people emerging from underneath and head towards neighborhoods afterwards.

On other occasions she said the suspected migrants get picked up by other people who take them to other places.

She said they are being guided by people who know the area.

"They are telling them to hide behind our back door and they hide. While they are hiding the guy calls someone in English or Spanish to come pick them up."

She said the people who are coming out of the manholes vary in age. She said they emerge at all hours of the day.

Tapia said she worries for her safety. She wants there to be a large law enforcement presence.