SANTA TERESA, NM - In recent incidents at Santa Teresa Middle School in southern New Mexico, illegal immigrants have entered the school while attempting to evade U.S. Border Patrol agents. Travis Dempsey, the Superintendent of Gadsden Independent School District (GISD), reported two such incidents within a week.
The first occurred on March 20, followed by another on March 27, which prompted the school to enter a secure mode for about 20 minutes. During the latter incident, six illegals were apprehended by Border Patrol agents.
According to Refugio Corrales, a spokesperson for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), migrants in Santa Teresa and Sunland Park frequently enter locations such as schools while attempting to evade Border Patrol agents.
Corrales noted that Border Patrol agents often receive calls from the Sunland Park community about illegals hiding within properties. Corrales stated, "Santa Teresa Middle School is among the locations where migrants inadvertently enter while trying to avoid arrest."
To address these incidents, Gadsden ISD has implemented several measures. Santa Teresa Middle School has one school resource officer provided by the Sunland Park Police Department.
The district's policy mandates the immediate reporting of illegal immigrants to the Border Patrol. Additionally, the school utilizes advanced security cameras to monitor illegal immigrant crossings.
During school hours, there is an increased presence of Border Patrol agents in the area to provide additional surveillance and ensure the safety of students and staff.
The U.S. El Paso Border Patrol sector released a detailed statement regarding the March 27 incident. Agents from the Santa Teresa Station apprehended the group of six illegals outside the school during the early hours of the morning.
The school was temporarily placed on a secure status as a precautionary measure.
The statement emphasized that Border Patrol agents are always mindful of the safety and well-being of both illegal immigrants and the public, especially around schools.
They also foster strong partnerships with the border community, and local, and state law enforcement agencies devoted to public safety.
In a broader context, the issue of illegal immigrant crossings has been escalating. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have been increasing annually under the Biden administration.
The numbers totaled about 126,000 in fiscal year 2021, climbed to about 144,000 in fiscal year 2022, and further rose to approximately 171,000 in fiscal year 2023.
New Mexico has also seen a significant increase in illegal immigration numbers, totaling about 44,500 between October and February of the current fiscal year.
February alone saw nearly 11,600 cases, marking an increase of more than 3,000 from January and the highest month since October 1.
The situation has caused trepidation among parents and guardians in the community. Maria Gallegos, a concerned parent, expressed nervousness about the potential risks to students, fearing that illegals, in their desperation to evade immigration officials, might inadvertently harm or endanger the children.
Gallegos stated, "We're a little nervous because of the anxiety migrants feel about being apprehended by immigration officials. We don't know if they might pose a risk to our students."
Similarly, Lorenzo Gandara, a grandparent of a Gadsden ISD student, commented on the escalating issue of illegal migrant crossings, saying, "The situation is really concerning, as we fear something could happen to the kids."
In response to these concerns, school officials have been proactive in ensuring the safety of students. During the March 20 incident, Santa Teresa Middle School Principal Danielle Rodriguez utilized the "rave panic button" as part of the K-12 school safety app to report suspicious activity.
School officials worked closely with the Sunland Park Police Department until the situation was deemed safe. Rodriguez communicated with the entire community about the event, and police allocated two officers to remain on campus to ensure ongoing safety.
The Gadsden Independent School District (GISD) and the middle schools in Sunland Park have been working diligently to address these challenges. Guillermo Carmona, communications director for the district, acknowledged the incidents but declined to comment further on ongoing concerns.
However, the district did issue a press release expressing gratitude to the U.S. Border Patrol agents and the officers of the Sunland Park Police Department for their swift and professional response to the situation.
As the issue continues to evolve, stakeholders, including school officials, law enforcement agencies, and community members, have implemented measures to address the challenges posed by illegal migrant crossings in the region. These measures aim to ensure safety and security for students and the public.
The U.S. El Paso Border Patrol sector stated, "Border Patrol agents frequently receive calls from the Sunland Park, New Mexico community, particularly from those affected by migrants hiding within properties. This pattern is attributed to the border's proximity, leading many migrants to try to avoid apprehension by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Agents prioritize the safety and well-being of both migrants and the broader public, with special attention to areas around schools in the region."
The first occurred on March 20, followed by another on March 27, which prompted the school to enter a secure mode for about 20 minutes. During the latter incident, six illegals were apprehended by Border Patrol agents.
According to Refugio Corrales, a spokesperson for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), migrants in Santa Teresa and Sunland Park frequently enter locations such as schools while attempting to evade Border Patrol agents.
Corrales noted that Border Patrol agents often receive calls from the Sunland Park community about illegals hiding within properties. Corrales stated, "Santa Teresa Middle School is among the locations where migrants inadvertently enter while trying to avoid arrest."
To address these incidents, Gadsden ISD has implemented several measures. Santa Teresa Middle School has one school resource officer provided by the Sunland Park Police Department.
The district's policy mandates the immediate reporting of illegal immigrants to the Border Patrol. Additionally, the school utilizes advanced security cameras to monitor illegal immigrant crossings.
During school hours, there is an increased presence of Border Patrol agents in the area to provide additional surveillance and ensure the safety of students and staff.
The U.S. El Paso Border Patrol sector released a detailed statement regarding the March 27 incident. Agents from the Santa Teresa Station apprehended the group of six illegals outside the school during the early hours of the morning.
The school was temporarily placed on a secure status as a precautionary measure.
The statement emphasized that Border Patrol agents are always mindful of the safety and well-being of both illegal immigrants and the public, especially around schools.
They also foster strong partnerships with the border community, and local, and state law enforcement agencies devoted to public safety.
In a broader context, the issue of illegal immigrant crossings has been escalating. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have been increasing annually under the Biden administration.
The numbers totaled about 126,000 in fiscal year 2021, climbed to about 144,000 in fiscal year 2022, and further rose to approximately 171,000 in fiscal year 2023.
New Mexico has also seen a significant increase in illegal immigration numbers, totaling about 44,500 between October and February of the current fiscal year.
February alone saw nearly 11,600 cases, marking an increase of more than 3,000 from January and the highest month since October 1.
The situation has caused trepidation among parents and guardians in the community. Maria Gallegos, a concerned parent, expressed nervousness about the potential risks to students, fearing that illegals, in their desperation to evade immigration officials, might inadvertently harm or endanger the children.
Gallegos stated, "We're a little nervous because of the anxiety migrants feel about being apprehended by immigration officials. We don't know if they might pose a risk to our students."
Similarly, Lorenzo Gandara, a grandparent of a Gadsden ISD student, commented on the escalating issue of illegal migrant crossings, saying, "The situation is really concerning, as we fear something could happen to the kids."
In response to these concerns, school officials have been proactive in ensuring the safety of students. During the March 20 incident, Santa Teresa Middle School Principal Danielle Rodriguez utilized the "rave panic button" as part of the K-12 school safety app to report suspicious activity.
School officials worked closely with the Sunland Park Police Department until the situation was deemed safe. Rodriguez communicated with the entire community about the event, and police allocated two officers to remain on campus to ensure ongoing safety.
The Gadsden Independent School District (GISD) and the middle schools in Sunland Park have been working diligently to address these challenges. Guillermo Carmona, communications director for the district, acknowledged the incidents but declined to comment further on ongoing concerns.
However, the district did issue a press release expressing gratitude to the U.S. Border Patrol agents and the officers of the Sunland Park Police Department for their swift and professional response to the situation.
As the issue continues to evolve, stakeholders, including school officials, law enforcement agencies, and community members, have implemented measures to address the challenges posed by illegal migrant crossings in the region. These measures aim to ensure safety and security for students and the public.
The U.S. El Paso Border Patrol sector stated, "Border Patrol agents frequently receive calls from the Sunland Park, New Mexico community, particularly from those affected by migrants hiding within properties. This pattern is attributed to the border's proximity, leading many migrants to try to avoid apprehension by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Agents prioritize the safety and well-being of both migrants and the broader public, with special attention to areas around schools in the region."
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Comments
2024-04-01T10:26-0500 | Comment by: Barbro
How much crime and abuse have the citizens to suffer for the Democrats import of illegals for votes?