Danielle Prokop, Source NM, Feb. 24, 2025
“U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez and academics union leaders on Monday decried a border patrol agent’s entry final week to a constitution bus with Las Cruces college students on their technique to a swim meet. “We’re right here to handle an incident that ought to have by no means occurred,” Vasquez, a Democrat whose district contains border communities within the southern portion of the state, stated in a Zoom name with members of the press Monday afternoon. “It’s an incident that has rightfully raised severe issues throughout New Mexico and past.” The information convention adopted an incident early Friday morning throughout which U.S. Customs and Border Safety officers entered an unmarked constitution bus carrying 10 college students touring to Albuquerque for a swim meet on the checkpoint outdoors of Las Cruces on Interstate 25. Las Cruces Excessive Swim coach Pamela Quiñones, who reportedly was on the bus, informed impartial journalist Heath Haussaman that an agent requested the driving force in English shortly after 7 a.m. how many individuals have been on the bus. The motive force couldn’t converse English. “With out hesitation he jumped on the bus and didn’t ask the adults any extra questions, Quiñones, whom Supply couldn’t attain for remark previous to publication, told Haussaman. “He simply began strolling within the bus and began yelling in Spanish, demanding documentation from all of the passengers.” Customs and Border Safety launched a written assertion that characterised inspections of constitution buses as routine, saying “checkpoint inspections within the El Paso Sector play an important function in sustaining the integrity of our nation’s borders. They’re instrumental in deterring unlawful immigration and making certain that these touring away from the border adjust to immigration legal guidelines. By conducting these inspections, border patrol brokers assist safeguard the safety and well-being of communities all through the USA.” When requested about Quiñones’ model of the incident, CBP spokesperson Landon Hutchens informed Supply NM, “there gave the impression to be some resistance or one thing like that” in response to the agent “conducting a routine inspection.” Hutchens didn’t reply to a query about whether or not the agent’s actions would immediate additional investigation. Kelley Jameson, a spokesperson for Las Cruces Public Colleges, confirmed to Supply NM that college students from Las Cruces Excessive College, Centennial Excessive College and Mayfield Excessive College have been on the bus. “Fairly than de-escalating the scenario, the agent boarded the bus, ignored makes an attempt by coaches to elucidate the scenario and demanded info from the scholars, leaving them rattled and shaken,” Vasquez stated. “Let me be clear, harassing and horrifying kids doesn’t make New Mexico safer.” Vasquez despatched a letter Monday to Secretary Kristi Noem, who heads the Division of Homeland Safety, asking for an accounting of the incident and a written coverage for a way brokers work together with minors. The letter famous that this was not the primary problematic incident in New Mexico involving immigration officers, and referenced reported questioning of Native American tribal members by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.”
