A group of New Mexico high school students traveling to Albuquerque for a swim were "harassed" by U.S. Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint, according to Congressman Gabe Vasquez.
"Harassing and frightening children does not make New Mexico safer," the Democratic representative said. "No student should have to fear law enforcement while traveling to a school event."
Newsweek has contacted the Las Cruces Independent School District for comment.
Why It Matters
Under the current administration, ICE has been granted expanded enforcement powers, including the authority to conduct raids in places of worship, schools, and hospitals. Critics argue that these raids instill fear in vulnerable communities and violate protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Although this incident was not a raid, ICE's conduct faces scrutiny in the way it treats children. There are concerns that inspections like this one, along with warrantless arrests, unauthorized data collection, and detentions without probable cause, may raise constitutional challenges, potentially leading to legal disputes over the balance between immigration enforcement and individual rights.
What To Know
On February 21, Border Patrol agents from the Las Cruces station conducted a routine immigration inspection at a checkpoint on Interstate 25, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Agents boarded an unmarked charter bus carrying personnel from the Las Cruces Independent School District, CBP said.
"The situation escalated after agents questioned the driver, who was unable to respond in English. Rather than de-escalating, an agent proceeded to board the bus, ignored attempts by coaches to explain the situation, and demanded information from the students, leaving them rattled and shaken," says a statement from Vasquez's office.
A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said that the charter bus had no school markings and that Border Patrol routinely inspects charter buses passing through checkpoints.
Since the bus had no school decals, it was treated as a standard charter vehicle. The agents' primary objective was to verify the legal status of the passengers, CBP said.
After completing the verification process, all individuals were confirmed to be legally present in the country, and the agents departed without incident, according to CBP.
According to the CBP spokesperson, checkpoint inspections in the El Paso sector "play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of our nation's borders."
What People Are Saying
A CBP Spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement: "Checkpoint inspections in the El Paso Sector, play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of our nation's borders. They are instrumental in deterring illegal immigration and ensuring that those traveling away from the border comply with immigration laws. By conducting these inspections, Border Patrol agents help safeguard the security and well-being of communities throughout the United States."
Kelly Campion, a mother of one of the children onboard the bus said in a post on Facebook: "All I can say on this is that we have to do better! My son was on this bus so I know for sure this happened. Demanding documentation from minors as they are on their way to a school event is insane."
What Happens Next
Congressman Vasquez has called for DHS to review the incident.
English (US) ·