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.

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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.

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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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.

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ABC-7 at 4: County Judge Samaniego discusses Tornillo Port of Entry

Nichole Gomez

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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

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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.

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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

https://texasworks.com/

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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.

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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.

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Thousands of kids return to school in Juárez

Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The first week of September marked the start of school for hundreds of children in Juárez, along with tens of thousands of others returning for the fall semester south of the border.

This year, more children are expected to begin their early education in kindergarten and borderland schools, and parents are preparing their kids for their first days.

According to Chihuahua state officials, over 294,000 students are enrolled for the Fall 2025 semester.

ABC-7 had the chance to visit ‘Juana de Arco’ kindergarten in Ciudad Juárez, where they teach over 150 children.

Aideé Urquizú, who has been a teacher for nearly 20 years, said all school staff missed the little ones and always take preparations seriously for a new school year.

“It’s always the same emotion, it’s always about having that expectation, what will the children be like? How will you relate to them? The acceptance we’ll have for each other? I’m very excited, I feel very happy,” Urquizú said.

Marco Calzadillas, a local Juárez parent with two young boys, felt a bittersweet emotion after dropping his children off on the first day of school.

“When they separated, that’s when the problem started. The youngest one felt sadness because he wouldn’t be with his big brother all day,” Calzadillas said.

The Chihuahua state government made it mandatory for all children and staff to have the measles vaccination for everyone’s safety.

The start of a school year always brings challenges and emotions to parents, children, and teachers, but some know how to handle them.

“But these are challenges that we face each year at different levels, but they must be overcome,” Urquizú added.

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