Category: kvia-local-news

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is warning rideshare drivers about the significant legal and physical dangers associated with human smuggling risks.

Border Patrol said transnational criminal organizations are manipulating legitimate mobile applications to facilitate their smuggling operations, posing threats to drivers who unknowingly participate.

Criminal smugglers use these apps and frequently arrange pickups via third-party accounts, according to a Border Patrol press release.

Officials said these pickups occur in secluded desert locations, remote highway shoulders near the border wall, or commercial staging lots; the tactic allows smugglers to insulate themselves from law enforcement.

Border Patrol also urges rideshare drivers to identify several indicators of smuggling activity, which include:

Passengers wearing heavily soiled clothing or groups attempting to exceed vehicle occupant limits.

Other signs are third-party bookings where the account holder is not present, or passengers who appear visually stressed and unaware of their current location.

Drivers who accept these suspicious fares face immediate detention and investigation at highway checkpoints.

Under federal law, individuals found to be participating in these networks may face felony charges for alien smuggling and harboring.

“Cartel criminal smugglers recklessly endanger the lives of rideshare drivers and passengers alike, treating legitimate drivers as disposable tools for their smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz. “When these trips are intercepted, drivers face immediate detention and asset forfeiture while federal agents investigate their level of involvement in the smuggling network.”

U.S. Border Patrol also advised drivers who encounter suspicious pickup requests to prioritize their safety. Drivers should immediately cancel the ride and relocate to a secure area.

They are also encouraged to use in-app security functions to document their routes and report concerns to the platform.

Suspicious activity or suspected human smuggling should be reported immediately to official law enforcement hotlines.

For emergencies, individuals should dial 911. Citizens and drivers can report suspicious activity anonymously to the U.S. Border Patrol by calling 1-800-635-2509.

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Paul Schulz

UPDATE (July 9, 2026) — A social media post reportedly helped police identify 21-year-old Abraham Sosa Castro as a suspect in a deadly hit-and-run crash on the Loop 275 near Pellicano, according to arrest documents.

Documents said Castro’s car flipped onto its roof after crashing into Manuel Oliva Contreras June 19 just before midnight. Contreras later died to his injuries.

Pictures of the crash showed a beer can wedged between Castro’s windshield and dashboard on the driver’s side, according to documents.

Before Castro allegedly left the crash by foot, witnesses took photos of him, police said. The photos circulated online, particularly through the Instagram page FitFam El Paso.

Photos posted on FitFam after the crash(Courtesy: @therealfitfamelpaso)

One witness told police Castro allegedly appeared drunk in how he smelled, documents said. The witness took pictures of Castro and said he wore a green Mexico jersey with jeans. After posting the picture, the witness received information about Castro, including a picture of his car and Facebook profile with his full name.

Another witness told police Castro allegedly said, “Help me get my beer” and tried to get a cooler out of his car, documents said.

Someone called 911 to report their friend gave Castro a ride without knowing about the hit-and-run, documents said. The reporter recognized Castro on FitFam’s post because he wore the same clothes — a green Mexico soccer jersey and jeans — before leaving the friend’s house, police said.

Police met with the an unnamed “Involved Other” who reportedly drove Castro away from the crash site for questioning. Documents said the involved other was with her friend at a Circle K gas station when Castro allegedly told them he didn’t know where he was and needed a ride.

The involved other decided to give Castro a ride home. She and Castro were dropped off by the involved other’s friend at an apartment complex where she had her car parked, documents said.

From there, Castro allegedly asked her to take him to a nightclub in Lower Valley El Paso to find his friends, documents said. Castro couldn’t find his friends at the club.

The involved other told Castro she needed to go home and said she would drive Castro to his home in Fabens the next morning, documents said.

At the involved other’s home, her friend she was with earlier sent her the FitFam post about the crash with pictures reportedly showing Castro, documents said.

The involved other confronted Castro about the crash, and he allegedly left her home and ran across the street to ask her neighbor for a ride, police said. When he didn’t get a ride, he allegedly left toward the desert area, documents said.

The involved other said Castro told her his full name, police said.

Later, police obtained surveillance video from the Circle K Castro reportedly met the involved other and her friend at. Documents said video showed Castro get into an SUV and leave the gas station.

Police also found an old booking photo of Castro as the registered owner of his car. Documents said the photo matched the description witnesses gave police about how Castro looked.

UPDATE (July 8, 2026) — Tuesday, El Paso Police Department arrested and charged 21-year-old Abraham Sosa Castro for a crash that killed 76-year-old Manuel Oliva Contreras.

Police said Castro allegedly drove at a “high rate of speed” and read-ended Contreras on Loop 375 South. Castro reportedly left the crash site by foot, according to a police report.

Police booked him into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $500,000 bond.

(Courtesy: EPPD)

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – A 76-year-old El Paso man died following a hit-and-run crash on Loop 375 South near Pellicano, according to the El Paso Police Department.

Police said officers responded to the crash at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 on Loop 375 South near Pellicano and found two vehicles at the scene.

Investigators said the driver of one vehicle fled before officers arrived.

The other vehicle involved was a 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by Manuel Oliva Contreras of East El Paso. Contreras was transported to a local hospital after the crash. Police initially believed his injuries were not life-threatening, but later learned he died from those injuries.

The investigation was turned over to the Special Traffic Investigations unit.

According to preliminary findings, a dark colored vehicle was traveling southbound on Loop 375 at a high rate of speed when it rear-ended the Nissan Sentra, which was also traveling southbound. Investigators said the driver of the dark colored vehicle then fled the scene on foot.

Police have not identified the driver of the fleeing vehicle.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the crash or the driver involved to contact police at 915-832-4400. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477.

The crash marks the city’s 22nd traffic fatality of 2026. At the same point last year, El Paso had recorded 29 traffic fatalities.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A Las Cruces man faces federal child exploitation charges after investigators found a phone with evidence, according to the Justice Department. Investigators found the phone while they were investigating an alleged bounty hunter for human trafficking.

The DOJ said federal agents used a search warrant at a Las Cruces home to investigate Robert Jay Hernandez in May.

Robert Jay Hernandez faces federal charges after the DOJ said he allegedly bonded people out of jail and exploited them with forced labor, sexual acts and other services by threatening them. He reportedly worked for a bail bond company in Las Cruces.

The FBI took away several electronics, including a cellphone belonging to his 37-year-old son, Matthew Esai Hernandez.

Investigators found evidence that Matthew Hernandez engaged in sexually-explicit interactions with people who presented themselves as minors and had child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Hernandez allegedly used messaging apps like Telegram and Kik Messenger to get CSAM, according to the DOJ. In several conversations, he allegedly knew the minor’s age and still requested pictures and sexual messages, according to a news release.

He faces a charge for attempted coercion and enticement of minors and receipt and possession of child pornography, according to the DOJ. His trial hasn’t been scheduled yet.

If convicted, Hernandez faces a minimum punishment of 25 years and up to life in prison.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday announced it executed “Operation Slow Down” to reduce dangerous driving on Transmountain Road.

EPCSO said the operation lasted six days and involved highly-visible law enforcement presence.

Within six days, deputies did 292 traffic stops. On average, deputies did 48 traffic stops and gave 44 citations a day, according to the sheriff’s office.

At the end of the operation, the sheriff’s office issued 265 citations and warnings:

204 speeding citations

27 citations for no insurance

16 driver’s license violation citations

12 registration violation citations

2 citations for failing to exit a lane for an emergency vehicle

1 citation for an unrestrained child

2 possession of THC/marijuana reports

2 traffic warrant referrals to Justice of the Peace Precinct 7

77 written warnings

“Our goal is not to issue citations, it’s to save lives,” Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said in a statement. “When drivers see deputies out enforcing traffic laws, they’re reminded to slow down and make safer choices behind the wheel.”

Additionally, EPCSO didn’t report any crashes in the area during the six-day period.

ABC-7 spoke to Emmanuel Soria, the Chief Deputy with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Soria said the main goal of the operation is to target speeders. The office received complaints about reckless drivers on Transmountain and wanted to target them.

“The whole concept is presence,” said Soria. “It’s unfortunate that we have to have six patrol cars lined up on Transmountain in order for people to see that.”

Soria says they will hear complaints from residents about speeders and reckless drivers on state and county roads and try to have a presence there.

“Our conclusion based on this operation is that it’s evident when patrol cars are visibile, peole will tend to abide by the speed limit,” said Soria. “But we don’t want it just to happen only because we’re there. We would like the community to help us patrol themselves.”

ABC-7 will have a full story on Operation Slow Down tonight on ABC-7 at 10.

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Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Monday, El Paso Water addressed ongoing community concerns regarding the water demand of Meta’s new data center under construction in Northeast El Paso.

During a City Council work session, officials from El Paso Water said the facility’s water usage is projected to be lower than many residents believe, ensuring existing customers will not be negatively impacted.

The data center, being built near the state line, prompted worries among some El Pasoans about the strain it could place on the region’s water supply.

El Paso Water shared details on its long-term water planning, which focuses on population, supply and demand.

El Paso Water gets its supply from four primary sources: the Hueco Bolson, the Mesilla Bolson, the Rio Grande and reclaimed water.

John Balliew, president and CEO of El Paso Water, explained when the city developed its master plan in 2006, large data centers were not anticipated. The plan projected daily water use of 2.3 million gallons for residential development and 3.7 million gallons for high-density residential and commercial development.

Balliew noted the Meta data center’s maximum allowable water use of 2.5 million gallons per day falls within these original projections. Balliew clarified Meta would only reach its maximum water use if temperatures in El Paso hit 117 degrees, a temperature the city has never recorded.

He estimated the project’s expected daily water use to be closer to 480,000 gallons — a figure he said is comparable to other large commercial water users like golf courses, large hospitals, industrial laundries, housing authorities and the Marathon Refinery.

“If this were a residential development or even if it was a golf course, nobody would be complaining about it even though it was the same amount of water. So in terms of the of of taxing the overall water supply for the future generations of El Paso, tiny tiny impact on that,” Balliew said in the meeting.

However, El Paso City Council Member Josh Acevedo expressed concerns in a statement:

“While El Paso Water maintains they have sufficient water resources to accommodate the Meta data center, I continue to be concerned. Current demand may not account for major changes in the climate as we continue to face drought conditions.

My issue is not with El Paso Water, but rather with Meta as they have the ability to change the size and scope of their project with almost zero oversight by the city.

The agreement between the City and Meta also fails to address environmental concerns that I share with the public around the inefficient gas power plants for the demand induced by the hyper scale data center, including negative impacts to our air quality and noise pollution. The project has already surpassed its original scope, and the agreement with El Paso Water only serves to benefit them further.”

Meta plans to use a water-efficient, closed-loop, liquid-cooled system that recirculates the same water and will use zero water for a majority of the year, according to background information provided by Meta.

This design aims to minimize water use in their data centers. Meta has a goal to be water positive by 2030, meaning the company intends to restore more water than it consumes.

In El Paso, Meta plans to restore water consumed by the data center to local watersheds by supporting local projects that boost water supply, enhance water quality, provide safe drinking water and help restore local habitats.

These projects include deploying irrigation technologies for agriculture in the immediate area and supporting initiatives to bring safe, clean, affordable running water to underserved Colonias.

Meta said it worked closely with El Paso Water to plan for and meet its water and wastewater needs. Agreements with El Paso Water govern Meta’s operations and ensure the company pays the full costs associated with serving its data center, to avoid negatively impacting other customers or the local water supply.

Meta plans to disclose the water withdrawal for the El Paso facility annually once it becomes operational.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A two-year low of type O blood prompted Vitalant to ask the community to donate the most-needed blood type.

The nonprofit is asking all blood donors, especially those with type O, to make an appointment. It said since May, type O blood supply decreased.

According to Vitalant, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion every two seconds, and type O is the most-transfused type.

Type O-negative blood can help anyone, Vitalant said. O-positive can help anyone with a positive blood type.

“When there is a shortage, doctors may have to decide who can receive it immediately and who can wait. That is why maintaining an adequate supply of all blood types is essential to ensure every patient gets the blood they need, especially when seconds count,” James Dugger, Vitalant’s vice president of the Texas area, said.

Around the Fourth of July holiday, Vitalant said it sees less donors. 

“More travel, you know, more auto accidents because of more people on the roads. So just things like that in that takes away from the already needed blood for people who have surgeries and illnesses that require blood transfusions,” Vitalant’s Carla Alexander said.

Vitalant said donors who give blood by July 11 can get a special T-shirt while supplies last.

You can make a Vitalant appointment here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday, Juarez firefighters reported and contained an overnight fire at a tire storage facility across the border.

An official report said the fire was reported at 11:53 p.m. Monday. Six fire engines and a tanker helped with the response by cooling the area with water jets. Crews also sued heavy machinery to smother the flames.

Officials said the fire went under control, but wasn’t fully extinguished, by around 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Between 250,000-300,000 used tires were damaged — out of an estimated 3.5 million stored at the site, according to officials.

Authorities continued to extinguish the fire throughout Tuesday and will stay on site until any risk of the fire reigniting is gone.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Todd Rundgren, known for “Bang the Drum All Day” and “Hello It’s Me,” will perform at the Abraham Chavez Theater in El Paso come November, according to a news release Tuesday.

Hardin’s Music Saloon said tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for the Nov. 7 concert. El Paso Live’s website said there will also be a pre-sale Thursday at 10 a.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Rundgren will play at 7:30 p.m.

The 78-year-old singer-songwriter rose to fame in the late 1960s when he was in the psychadelic pop band Nazz.

His El Paso show is part of his “Damned If I Do” tour — and is the only stop scheduled in Texas so far.

You can find tickets here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Las Cruces Public Schools scheduled a new school for grades 6-12 to open in the fall of 2027. Monday, the district asked students, families staff and community members to share ideas for the new campus.

LCPS said the new school will be smaller since it’s only serving middle and high school grades, which is intended to better support students. It said by getting rid of the transition from middle to high school, students will build stronger relationships.

The district is gathering public feedback and ideas through a survey. Questions focus on student opportunities and values.

Participants can take the survey until July 30, according to LCPS.

The district said it will also host meetings about the new school, but haven’t shared a schedule yet.

You can take the survey by clicking here.

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Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Tuesday, El Paso City Council unanimously voted to advocate for sustainable state funding for the Emergence Health Network (EHN) new Behavioral East Campus. It will provide crisis behavioral health care for youth and adults and include the first space of its kind for kids in the city.

The funding would support the facility’s operations, staffing and services. It would also help expand crisis behavioral health care for youth and adults and ensure the long-term sustainability of the facility.

City Council member Ivan Niño proposed the item.

“We often talk about how important it is to prioritize public safety, affordability, quality of life components including economic mobility. However, I’ve also shared how all of these priorities are defined differently by many different individuals based on our perspective districts. You know, currently in the far east of El Paso or in district five, within district five, there is no direct access or branch,” Niño said in Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

He said the new behavioral health center in Far East El Paso (District 5) would change that. EHN was able to secure state funding for the full construction of the project, nearly $50 million from the state legislature, according to Niño.

That project will include a crisis center and an outpatient space. According to Niño, it will include:

16 diversion adult chairs

16 extended observation beds

16 residential crisis beds

8 beds for kids

The center will include the first beds for this type of care for kids in El Paso. Niño said that was important for him.

“This space is going to have eight beds for kids, which is going to be something that is going to be super impactful for our entire community and for the Far East side of Paso, specifically, how fast it’s grown and it continues to grow,” Niño said in the meeting.

Now that state funding has been secured for the building, Niño said it’s important for the council to advocate to ensure EHN has operational cost to provide services for the entire city and county.

“This will be the first dedicated youth crisis observation and stabilization service in the county. This will also directly support law enforcement officers, including CIT teams, by giving them a dedicated place to bring someone in crisis,” EHN Chief Operating Officer Crystal Davis said in the council meeting.

Davis said the facility means instead of a person in crisis being routed to jail or the emergency room, they will be met with clinical staff. She said that means less waiting times in emergency rooms and faster return in the community for officers.

EHN is asking for the city to advocate for sustainable funding to support the facility operation and staffing long-term, according to Davis. The request is detailed in this item:

Item 23: Discussion and action to direct the City Manager, in coordination with the City Attorney, to amend the City of El Paso’s 90th Session State Legislative Agenda to include advocacy for sustainable state funding during the upcoming biennium to support the operational costs, staffing, and service delivery of the recently announced Behavioral Health East Campus, a community-based crisis behavioral health facility to be operated by Emergence Health Network (EHN) and located within the City of El Paso. Such advocacy shall support the expansion of crisis behavioral health services for youth and adults and help ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the facility.

The item passed unanimously.

ABC-7 has reached out to Emergence Health Network for comment.

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