Authorities in west Texas and New Mexico are intensifying arrests and prosecutions of people who illegally cross the border through active construction zones, particularly those pretending to be legitimate workers.
For years, law enforcement officers have encountered migrants wearing reflective vests and hard hats in an effort to blend into job sites. Officials working with Texas’ Operation Lone Star say entire vehicle loads of passengers have been found dressed in construction gear. Once stopped and questioned, many are unable to speak English, quickly revealing they are illegal border crossers.
With large-scale border wall construction underway, opportunities for impersonation have grown. In the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) El Paso Sector—which covers two west Texas counties and all of New Mexico—the federal government is building a new Smart Wall system. The project includes replacing seven miles of deteriorating fencing and 22 miles of system upgrades near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, about 30 miles from El Paso. Additional work includes 23 miles of new Smart Wall and 81 miles of system attributes in New Mexico, along with 48 miles of new wall and 46 miles of upgrades in El Paso.
Border Patrol officials say the work sites create unique hazards. The construction zones “pose additional safety risks to those attempting to cross illegally, including exposure to moving machinery and unstable terrain.”
Recent arrests involved Mexican and Ecuadoran nationals apprehended about two miles west of the Paso del Norte International Port of Entry. After entering the U.S. illegally, they dressed as construction workers “attempting to blend in with the construction workers on site,” CBP said. “Anyone attempting unlawful entry along the El Paso Sector border, including construction zones, will face immediate detection, prosecution, and removal, with a 100-percent prosecution rate,” the agency added.
El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse Munoz warned that enforcement would remain aggressive. “These construction zones will continue to be heavily monitored by our Border Patrol agents and unlawful entry will not be tolerated,” he said. “Individuals attempting to enter the United States unlawfully in construction zones or anywhere in the El Paso Sector are subject to immediate detection, prosecution and removal.”
U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas echoed the message: “Entering the U.S. illegally is both dangerous to your life and your freedom,” adding that his office “is committed to prosecuting every person caught illegally entering this country.”
His office filed 11,542 border crime charges in 2025, including cases involving individuals with extensive criminal histories.
The hardline approach marks a sharp shift from Biden-era policies that often required agents to release migrants into the U.S. with little federal prosecution. During that period, the El Paso sector recorded historic surges in crossings and crime. In November 2022 alone, more than 53,500 illegal crossings and 24,000 “gotaways” were reported, prompting El Paso’s mayor to declare a state of emergency and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to deploy 400 National Guard troops to the region.
Illegal entries in New Mexico peaked in 2023 as Operation Lone Star expanded, with the Santa Teresa station becoming the busiest in the sector. Texas later erected barriers to prevent crossings from New Mexico, the only neighboring state that declined to participate in OLS. Republican lawmakers from New Mexico even traveled to Texas seeking guidance on replicating the program.
By the end of 2025, illegal entries in New Mexico had dropped 80% in one year and 95% over three years under renewed federal enforcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico said his office is filing roughly 100 cases a week. “People who cross illegally in or around these construction projects will face federal charges and removal, consistent with the 100-percent prosecution policy in this sector,” he said. “Strict enforcement enhances safety for construction workers, agents, and the public while this critical infrastructure is being built.”
Border Patrol urged residents to report suspicious activity to 1-800-635-2509.
Originally reported by Black Chronicle News Service.
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