Author: KVIA

Heriberto Perez Lara

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) — The Department of Homeland Security approved several projects for the border wall, specifically in the El Paso Sector.

ABC-7 reported in July that a secondary wall project was set to be completed in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also confirmed that the border wall would be painted black to reduce illegal crossings.

Border Patrol says the black paint will help prevent the border wall from rusting and also protect it from the high temperatures in El Paso, which could lead to fewer migrants attempting to climb the wall.

“You’re only putting yourself and your family in danger when you believe in the misinformation and the lies from criminal organizations,” said Agent Claudio Herrera, Border Patrol El Paso Sector spokesman.

According to Agent Herrera, infrastructure is crucial for their daily operations and is part of the efforts to close the existing gaps.

“It’s vital for the United States Water Patrol (construction of a secondary wall) because it gives our agents time to respond to illegal activity in those areas,” Agent Herrera added. “And it helps us as a deterrent (black painting) and because the properties of these walls tend to get really hot.”

There is no timeline for completing these projects in the El Paso Sector.

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 22-year-old from El Paso traveled to Turin, Italy, in March for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Karla Alvarez was selected to be a part of the floorball team. The team ultimately came in 4th place.

But Alvarez is a passionate and dedicated athlete who is involved in more than one sport. She has competed in basketball, cheerleading, football, golf, swimming, tennis and cross-country.

Alvarez began competing in the Special Olympics at the age of five. Her family said she has always been competitive.

Her coaches, Ricardo Rodriguez and Aira Dolz, both met her when she was a freshman in high school.

“She’s the type of athlete that us coaches love,” Rodriguez said.

They said she is tenacious and a go-getter.

“She has that confidence that. Yes, we wish we all had. She goes up to anyone and says, ‘Hey, I’m Karla, and this is me.’ And it’s, it’s really awesome. And she just goes up there, and it’s like she owns it.” Dolz said.

ABC-7 asked Alvarez how she felt representing the U.S.A. and El Paso. She said she “feels good. Proud of myself.”

Her family had been abroad, and it was Karla who made that possible.

Alvarez’s mother, Veronica Mares, said it was a proud moment seeing her daughter at the Special Olympics.

“During the opening ceremonies and just seeing the team came in and come out and look at her just waving and being happy and being somebody that had achieved such a milestone in her life. It was just such a great, great feeling.”

Mares said Karla thrives in the world of sports, but she representing El Paso at the global competition will be hard to beat.

“She was so happy to accomplish, so she felt like, like she had done what she wanted. And she was so happy about it.”

Karla said she loves being active, but right now she is mostly focused on cheerleading and golf.

If you have Good Vibes Only story please email news@kvia.com.

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Nicole Ardila

The El Paso community is honoring the fallen from the 9/11 terrorist attack with their annual 9/11 stair climb memorial.

Nearly 2,000 people are expected to join the event at the Sun Bowl Stadium, and that includes Army ROTC, Fort Bliss, El Paso law enforcement and first responders, and community members.

People will be climbing the stadium stairs to complete the same number of flights that the first responders climbed in the Twin Towers, honoring those who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Gates open at 6 a.m. and an opening ceremony for the event will take place at 6:10 a.m.

The event runs until 9 a.m.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-El Paso Community College will participate in activities and competitions with more than 200 other institutions across the nation sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports. According to EPCC the program will help build a well-rounded experience for students, better preparing them for their future career.

https://www.epcc.edu/Services/Athletics/esports

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)– September 2nd, 2025 – Get ready to raise your glasses! The 7th Annual Horizon City Wine Festival returns to Horizon City September 13th.Tickets are on sale now at www.horizoncitywinefestival.com

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Nicole Ardila

The Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority and the Doña Ana County Office of Emergency Management are urging all residents to sign up for CodeRED alerts, to keep them informed and prevent tragedies and loss.

Local public safety officials would quickly send time-sensitive alerts directly to residents through phone calls and texts, email, and social media. 

Notifications may include:

Severe weather warnings

Evacuation notices

Hazardous materials incidents

Missing persons

ABC-7 spoke with the MVRDA’s Executive Director Jennifer Gorham, and she says the system has been underutilized.

“There’s an opportunity for some preventative. As for instance, this month being National Preparedness Month, this is a great time for us to kind of reunite this application to our community,” said Gorham. “Because, again, being prepared in many cases can save lives or save property as well.”

You can start on their website, here, or text “Alert me 911” to 99411 — or download the app on your phone’s app store.

You’ll then insert basic contact and location information so you’ll get notifications based on your area.

Then you can select if you want weather notifications, but MVRDA highly suggests you keep them on….

They also send notifications after a major event such as how to receive resources…

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Angelica Lujan, the mother of Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez, the 30-year-old man who died after a confrontation with police officers on I-10, is planning to sue the City of El Paso and those involved in her son’s death.

ABC-7 reported last month that the autopsy report on Hernandez’s death was ruled a homicide. The autopsy states asphyxia due to chest compression during law enforcement subdual and restraint along with cocaine toxicity as significant contributing factors in his death.

“What I need right now is the community’s help; I can’t, we can’t as a community, we can’t let stuff like this happen anymore,” Lujan said. “I’m begging, I’m pleading to the community to please help me with this.”

“These people (police officers), they’re trained to handle these kinds of situations, but it just was not handled the way it should have been handled,” Lujan added.

Lujan also discussed the discovery of cocaine toxicity in her son’s autopsy, mentioning that they were unaware he was using any drugs.

“I cannot, and I don’t know everything he did or did not do, I don’t, but it was ruled a homicide because death was due to asphyxia, which is basically he was deprived of oxygen,” Lujan said. “I am not aware of any drugs that deprive you of oxygen the way asphyxia does.”

Melendez Law Firm and Edwards Law are currently representing Lujan and plan to file a lawsuit soon, seeking transparency and accountability. They want to learn more about whether EPPD’s Crisis Intervention Team was dispatched during the incident.

“This is completely irrelevant (use of drugs); it had nothing to do with the way that the police department reacted to him. It doesn’t matter whether somebody has something like that or they’re having a mental health crisis without that, or any intoxicant; he still deserved to have his Fourth Amendment right to basically an unreasonable seizure like this,” said Attorney Robert Melendez.

“It’s completely irrelevant, and again, at the time they killed this young man, he was completely handcuffed and under their control, so none of that is relevant and it’s really not the cause of his death,” Melendez added. “As the autopsy states, asphyxia caused by chest compression — we can see from the police body cam video that they’re doing this to him while he’s under their full control and he’s not a threat to anyone.”

Melendez and Lujan said Hernandez should still be alive today, and that officers should have been better trained. “These officers should have, if they were trained effectively, acknowledged that training and clearly kept him alive,” Melendez said.

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Nichole Gomez

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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.

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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.

Borderland Expressway Phase 2

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.

Guardrail Repair

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.

Loop 375 Widening Project

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.

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