Migrant crossings fall in rural New Mexico, increase in urban El Paso areas
By: Brianna Chavez
KVIA News El Paso
Posted: Mar 07, 2019 05:43 PM MST
https://www.kvia.com/news/el-paso/migrant-crossings-fall-in-rural-new-mexico-increase-in-urban-el-paso-areas/1053386538
EL PASO, Texas - As the number of migrants entering the Antelope Well Port of Entry in rural New Mexico has decreased [between January and March], larger groups of migrants are coming to urban areas of El Paso, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
"From October until about January that was the hot spot for seeing large groups of people," said Border Patrol Agent Joe Romero. […]
According to Romero, the groups of migrants are coming to gates all across the urban area of El Paso randomly. Romero stated that the groups of migrants are being moved strategically by cartel groups to draw Border Patrol agents.
Romero also said that the fence built in El Paso as a part of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 was built to slow illegal crossings, typically by adult males, and buy agents more time.
"As we move on to what we're seeing now, the influx of people and family units and children...(the fence) also provides us a secondary ability to contain people in a certain area and not have those gaps and security, while it allows our agents to respond to other threats," Romero said.