EL PASO, TX – Beginning May 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers along with their law enforcement partners from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began an immigration enforcement operation in El Paso, Texas.
Immigration agents reported that they will process individuals for investigation and placement in Title 42 removal proceedings or Title 8 removal proceedings, as appropriate, whereby non-citizens who pose a threat to national security or public safety will be transferred to ICE for detention.
“As we have repeatedly said, people who do not have a lawful basis to remain will be removed. People should not listen to the lies of smugglers and instead use legal avenues for protection,” said Acting Commissioner Troy Miller.
Guidelines for enforcement actions in and around protected areas remain in effect. It was also reported that ICE and CBP will not take enforcement action in the vicinity of a location that restricts people’s access to services or participation in essential activities to the greatest extent possible.
In addition, effective May 8 at 10:00 p.m. local time, in the interest of border security and to protect the traveling public, CBP infrastructure and workforce, the Office of Field Operations temporarily reduced processing lanes and passenger operations at the Paso del Norte port of entry.
It was reported that CBP will continually evaluate the operational posture to determine if additional reductions in processing and operations are necessary, and will communicate changes to the public as they occur.
In light of this situation, travelers were urged to use alternate ports of entry. The Department of Homeland Security indicated that it will continue to implement the multi-agency plan to humanely manage the border through enforcement, deterrence and diplomacy, while addressing the challenges facing the El Paso community.
