EL PASO, Texas — Border Patrol and local law enforcement continue to be overwhelmed by the number of people illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border before Title 42 is set to expire next week. A striking example of this played out on Saturday when around 200 illegal immigrants brazenly walked along Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway during the day, attempting to reach the downtown area.
The El Paso Police Department, Texas Highway Patrol, and Border Patrol was monitoring the large group, working to ensure no cars on the highway accidentally hit people.
Happening now: Hundreds of migrants are walking alongside the highway, heading towards downtown El Paso. Border Patrol is monitoring the group. pic.twitter.com/H5qLC9P2Nr
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 6, 2023
Once the group started to exit the highway, that is when law enforcement moved in to take the individuals into custody. This caused the group to run away and scatter in different directions, but many were initially caught and put in handcuffs.
BREAKING: Border Patrol and El Paso PD swooped in to take the migrants into custody. Many of them ran away but saw people in handcuffs. pic.twitter.com/FkCvEAHdqp
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 6, 2023
Smaller groups broke off and attempted to run away, resulting in a game of cat and mouse. One group of single, adult men tried to seek refuge inside a Salvation Army building, but Border Patrol and El Paso police got all of them out. Most of those in the group were from Venezuela, but other countries included Colombia and Ecuador.
I have never seen such a large group of attempted gotaways, especially out in the open during the middle of the day. It appears police and Border Patrol caught most of them. pic.twitter.com/DAB2I8zLY1
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 6, 2023
The outside of the Salvation Army building became a collection point for law enforcement officers to drop off other illegal immigrants they managed to take into custody.
Townhall Media/Julio Rosas
Townhall Media/Julio Rosas
It appears the vast majority of the original group were taken into custody but there were other smaller groups who went in different directions so it is hard to say whether every single one was able to be apprehended. The fact such a large group felt comfortable enough to attempt to avoid arrest during the day speaks to how much the dynamic has changed during the border crisis. The city and its residents are concerned what will happen once Title 42 goes away on May 11.