ABC-7 AT 4: National Food Bank Day
Nichole Gomez
Federal agencies arrest 35 migrants, smugglers in human smuggling scheme
Heriberto Perez Lara
CHAPARRAL, New Mexico (KVIA) — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted on her X account over the weekend the arrest of 33 migrants and two human smugglers after federal agencies dismantled a human smuggling attempt.
According to her social media post, a driver rolled over while trying to evade Border Patrol agents and led to the arrest of two Mexican nationals who will now face human smuggling charges and federal prosecution.
Border Patrol, through its Smuggling Disruption Unit, Homeland Security Investigations and BORTAC agents executed a search warrant in Chaparral, New Mexico, where they encountered 28 migrants from Mexico and Guatemala attempting to hide in different parts of the stash house.
“This is law and order in action. Human smugglers take note: do not attempt these reckless schemes. We will find you, we will prosecute you, and you will face the full weight of justice,” said Noem.
25 migrants will remain in ICE custody pending removal, 8 were charged with illegal re-entry and transferred to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the two smugglers will face the charges previously mentioned.
ABC-7 reported last month, the El Paso Sector has encountered nearly 150 stash houses in the area so far this Fiscal Year 2025, which will end next month.
More updates in later newscasts.
ABC-7 at 4: 1-10 Widening West Project Update
Nichole Gomez
TX Dot’s Jennifer Wright joins us with an update on the I-10 widening West Project which has been underway in northwest El Paso for just over three years now.
Traffic Alerts: Courtesy (TX Dot El Paso)
I-10 Widening West
Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9 (as needed)
• North- and South Desert between Vinton and Thorn alternate lane closures
Crews will be working on electrical and miscellaneous construction work.
I-10 Widening West 2
Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I-10 east- and westbound between Anthony and Nashua alternate lane closures
North and South Desert between Anthony and Nashua alternate lane closures
Crews will be conducting dirt work and removing miscellaneous materials.
Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13
9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Nightly)
I-10 east- and westbound between Anthony and Nashua left lane closed
Crews will be conducting concrete placement for new pavement surface.
Artcraft
Monday, September 9 through Friday, September 12
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artcraft east- and westbound between New Mexico State Line and Doniphan alternate lane closures
Crews will be performing illumination install and delivering construction material.
South Desert between Clarkstone and Blue Sky alternate lane closures
North Desert between Helen of Troy and Northern Pass alternate lane closures
Crews will be loading and unloading material and equipment.
Monday, October 13 ADVANCE WARNING
Continuous Closure Until further notice 24/7
I-10 eastbound on-ramp between Transmountain and Artcraft
Crews will be working on drill shaft foundation and column installation.
Transmountain Rehab
Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Loop 375 (Transmountain) east- and westbound between Tom Mays and Main Gap left lane closed
Crews will be working on punch list items.
Monday, September 8
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Continuous Closure 24/7)
US-54 east- and westbound between Mesquite Hills and McCombs alternate lane closures
Crews will be paving detours.
Tuesday, September 9 through Friday, September 12
7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
US-54 east- and westbound between Mesquite Hills and McCombs left lane closure
Crews will be working on paving detours.
Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12
7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
McCombs north- and southbound between US-54 and Stan Roberts alternate lane closures
Stan Roberts east- and westbound between McCombs and Martin Luther King alternate lane closures
Martin Luther King northbound between Stan Roberts and New Mexico State line right lane closure
Crews will be placing portable concrete traffic barrier.
Mesa Safety Lighting
Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mesa west- and eastbound between Champion and Fountain left lane closed
Mesa west- and eastbound between North Desert and Remcon right lane closed
Mesa west- and eastbound between Champion and Alto Mesa right lane closed
Crews will be working on lighting improvements.
Spall Repair
Sunday, September 7 through Thursday, September 11
9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
I-10 westbound between Paisano and Porfirio Diaz alternate lane closure
Crews will be repairing spall.
Monday, September 8
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I-10 eastbound between Schuster to Santa Fe right and left lane closure at Santa Fe exit
Tuesday, September 9
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Loop 375 (Transmountain) eastbound between Mile Marker 19 and last Picnic Tables right lane closed
Wednesday, September 10
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Loop 375 (Transmountain) eastbound between Picnic Tables and Border Patrol Museum right lane closed
Thursday, September 11
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
US-54 southbound between Ellerthorpe and Pershing exit right lane closed
Friday, September 12
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
US-54 (CD Lanes) southbound between Altura and Montana shoulder closed
Crews will be working on guardrail.
Miscellaneous Concrete
Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I-10 westbound between Mesa and Porfirio Diaz right lane closed
Yandell eastbound between Mesa and Santa Fe center lane closed
Crews will be repairing rip rap.
Maintenance
Sunday, September 7
3 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I-10 West between Airway and Geronimo three right lane closed
Airway entrance ramp to I-10 West closed
Crews will be working on bridge joints.
Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I-10 East between Kansas and Missouri right lane closed
Crews will be working on drains.
US-62 (Paisano) east- and westbound between Eucalyptus and Coles right lane closed
Crews will be cleaning.
Right lane closed at US-85 (Paisano) southbound at Executive intersection
Crews will be working on the drain.
Continuous closure beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, September 6 to 5 a.m. Monday, September 8 (48 hour)
Loop 375 northbound main lane closure Padres Exit Ramp to Pan American Entrance Ramp.
Loop 375 southbound main lane closure Pan American Exit Ramp to Zaragoza Exit ramp (Port of Entry).
Crews working on concrete barrier removal, re-striping, and painting
Monday September 8, to Friday September 12
Daily, 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Americas Avenue (frontage road) alternating lane closures at UPRR south to north turn-around
Crews working on installing sidewalk.
Tuesday 9, to Thursday September 11
Nightly, 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
LP375 southbound main lane closure between North Loop Exit Ramp and Pan American Entrance Ramp
Crews working on striping and concrete barrier removal.
Horizon/Darrington Reconstruction Project
Tuesday, September 9 to Thursday, September 11
Nightly, 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Walmart Exit/Entrance complete closure at Darrington Road and Pawling Drive
Crews will be working on utilities.
I-10 Landscape & Aesthetic Project
Monday, September 8 to Friday, September 12
Daily, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Gateway West Boulevard at Lee Trevino Drive left turnaround lane closure and alternating lane closures
Gateway West Boulevard at Zaragoza Road left turnaround lane closure
Gateway East Boulevard at Zaragoza Road left turnaround lane closure
I-10 west- and eastbound right lane closure at Lee Trevino Drive
Crews will be placing concrete riprap, welding steel panels, painting concrete riprap and placing light fixtures.
Preventive Maintenance Project
Monday, September 8 to Friday, September 12
Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
US67 north- and southbound alternating lane closures between US67/US90 JCT and Pecos/Brewster County Line
Crews will be performing mobile operations, multiple and alternating lane closures on replacing roadway pavement markings.
Sunday, September 7 to Thursday, September 11
Nightly, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
US 54 north- and southbound alternating lane closures between Hondo Pass Drive and Texas/New Mexico State Line
I-10 frontage roads west- and eastbound alternating lane closures between I-10 JCT (West and I-10 JCT (East)
Spur 601 west- and eastbound alternating lane closures between US 54 and Loop 375
Loop 375 west- and eastbound alternating lane closures between Zaragoza Point of Entry and US 85/IH 10 JCT
FM 2316 (McRae Boulevard) alternating lane closures between US 62/180 and I-10
Crews will be performing mobile operations, multiple and alternating lane closures on replacing roadway pavement markings.
Safety Lighting Project
Monday, September 8 to Friday, September 12
Daily, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I-10 westbound left shoulder closure between Darrington Road and Horizon Boulevard
Frontage Road between Gateway Boulevard East and Gateway Boulevard West complete closure
Crews will be working on the shoulder in the median installing conduit and drill shafts for illumination and installing lighting fixtures.
Mexican Consulate in El Paso expanding legal assistance for nationals and citizens
Heriberto Perez Lara
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Mexico’s consulates in the United States continue to provide the Mexican community with information and practical tools for understanding and exercising their rights, particularly in immigration matters.
The Mexican Consulate in El Paso serves El Paso and Hudspeth counties, as well as nine other counties in southern New Mexico.
“Locally, what we also do is that every Friday we have legal allies here at the consulate and they give free advice to the community. Anybody can come on any Friday and that’s for legal assistance; we have our lawyers here, so they can go directly to talk to them,” said Consul General of Mexico in El Paso, Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de León.
The consular network has promoted the free advisory services provided by lawyers and legal advisors, answering questions and addressing specific cases.
Legal Advisory Week (SALE) has become an important legal initiative and outreach program. The program has achieved a significant impact in the Mexican community in the United States.
“The Government of Mexico, through the Foreign Ministry, reiterates its commitment to defending and protecting the rights of Mexicans abroad and will continue strengthening its proactive prevention strategies,” said Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Consul Ibarra says one of the services that has grown more is the dual citizenship process of those U.S. citizens with Mexican parents.
“We look out for the well-being of the Mexican community in the United States.”
If you need assistance from any Mexican consulate in the U.S., you can reach out to 520-623-7874.
The Consulate in El Paso’s number is 915-549-0003, and social media is ‘Consulado General de México en El Paso.’
Mexico’s Consulate in El Paso offers Free Legal Assistance every Friday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
More than 406,900 people received information at over 700 in-person and virtual events and 3,100 free legal consultations were given on immigration, labor, civil and family matters, among other topics. Consular staff also identified and channeled 595 assistance and protection cases.
More than 380 partners made this possible by providing their services, answering questions and offering personalized support free of charge.
ABC-7 at 4: Coats for Kids to offer warm coats to children this winter through donations
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The Coats for Kids program in Las Cruces has helped keep local children warm through the support of our community. This year, they will not be accepting gently used coats. Instead, they’re focusing on monetary donations. A gift of just $20 buys a brand-new coat for a local child—warmth that can change a winter.
Contributions can be made payable to:
Las Cruces Coats for Kids c/o Love Las Cruces 101 Perkins St., Suite 2. Las Cruces, NM 88005
LoveLasCruces Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AUyWi4ZgY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Love Las Cruces Instagram: @lovelascrucesorg
Coats for Kids Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1LjLbiRSce/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Coats for Kids Instagram: @lascrucescoatsforkids
ABC-7 completes FBI special agent fitness test
Nicole Ardila
The FBI is recruiting, and ABC-7 joined the El Paso division to complete the required physical fitness test to see what it takes to join.
Good Morning El Paso’s Nicole Ardila joins FBI El Paso and other media outlets for a friendly competition on Thursday.
The test consists of four main events, with a fifth event only for those in the Tactical Recruitment Program.
The events are administered in the following order, with no more than five minutes of rest between each event:
Sit-ups: Maximum number of continuous sit-ups in one minute
300 meter sprint: Timed 300-meter sprint
Push-ups: Maximum number of continuous push-ups (untimed)
1.5 mile run: Timed 1.5-mile run
Pull-ups: Maximum number of continuous pull-ups (only TRP candidates complete this event)
FBI El Paso is hosting a recruitment event at UTEP on Friday, Sept. 5 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
ABC-7 at 4: TexasWorks to host Ceremony for New Tuition-Free Adult Education and Career Program
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- Joint El Paso Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: TexasWorks – El Paso Mesa Campus (1035 Belvidere St #116, El Paso, TX 79912)
You’ll hear remarks from:
Ernesto Morales and Osvaldo Morales, El Paso Campus Directors
Dr. Elizabeth Camarena, Statewide Superintendent
A representative of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce
Nonprofit seeks El Paso volunteers to honor 9/11 heroes at Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Nicole Ardila
Carry The Load is a nonprofit organization inviting the El Paso community to honor the lives lost on 9/11 by volunteering at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
Volunteers will be coming together to pay tribute to those who sacrificed for the nation’s freedom by cleaning the headstones at 70 national cemeteries across the U.S.
They’re also recognizing the 343 firefighters that died that day and hundreds of other first responders.
ABC-7 spoke with one of their ambassadors, who shared why our community here should honor this day.
“Either yourself, family member, somebody you knew, was involved in that event or is involved in the event that happened over in another country as it pertains to our military, you know, helping protect this world,” said Milton Williams, a retired Dallas firefighter.
Williams said he knew people on the scene of 9/11, and at this event, they’ll be telling the stories to commemorate and remember those who are no longer here.
“We’re all affected by this event, we’re all affected by 9/11, and this is an event that happened that should never be forgotten,” said Williams. “Because once you forget, it’s like it never happened.”
As of Wednesday, 59 volunteers have signed up for next week’s event here at the cemetery, and there is no maximum amount as to how many can sign up.
You can register to volunteer at this event on their website, here.
Parents react to local cheer coach arrest
Olivia Vara
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A group of parents are upset they were not notified earlier about a coach who is accused of recording the owners of the group without their consent.
Christopher Sotelo was arrested on Friday. He was released on bond on Monday.
This incident involved the Texas Bandits All-Stars, a private club that holds a cheerleading camp.
Herman Delgado is a parent of one cheerleader on the Texas Bandits All-Stars and he says he didn’t find out about the arrest until Sunday, two days after Sotelo was taken into custody.
Delgado says he hopes the organization will take full legal action and prosecute Sotelo to the fullest extent of the law.