ABC-7 Takes Flight with Air and Marine Operations in El Paso Border Sector

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) unit is adjusting its aerial surveillance strategy across West Texas, as smuggling activity shifts to more remote areas along the southern border.

Officials say illegal crossings have declined overall in recent months, but smugglers are adapting by moving operations away from heavily monitored zones on the west side of El Paso. Activity that was once concentrated in Santa Teresa has now spread eastward to areas such as Fort Hancock, as well as more remote locations.

The shift has prompted AMO to reconfigure its flight patterns. Aircraft that once focused on the west side of El Paso are now deployed over the city’s eastern outskirts, allowing crews to quickly monitor communities like Socorro, Clint and Tornillo, areas that would otherwise take much longer to reach by ground.

Efren Gonzalez, Director of Air Operations for the El Paso Air Branch, said the changes reflect a broader pattern in smuggling behavior.

“We’ve seen the movement. As we gained control of the west side of El Paso and Santa Teresa, activity shifted toward the Fort Hancock area east of the city,” Gonzalez said. “Smugglers are always looking to exploit weaknesses, so we’ve proactively moved our assets to respond.”

Authorities say human smuggling has become a major source of revenue for cartels. The business model often involves collecting payments upfront or in installments, reducing risk for smugglers regardless of whether migrants reach their destination.

Gonzalez described the tactics used by these groups as “relentless,” pointing to serious concerns about the treatment of migrants.

“They don’t care about human rights or protection,” he said. “We’ve seen cases involving exploitation, including children and women being abused as part of these operations.”

Deputy Director Salcido, who has spent 18 years with AMO, said the scale and intensity of border activity has changed significantly in recent years.

“It’s been a whirlwind over the past five years, but we’ve seen a significant drop in crossings more recently,” Salcido said. “That’s one of the biggest changes.”

AMO works closely with federal, state and local partners, including investigative agencies operating both at the border and within the United States, to track and disrupt smuggling networks.

Aerial missions rely on a mix of helicopters, drones and existing border infrastructure such as fencing and razor wire.

Salcido said adaptability remains key as smuggling tactics continue to evolve.

“We have to stay flexible,” he said. “If their patterns change, our patterns have to change too. That’s how we keep up.”