Migrants caught hiding at New Mexico middle school near border for second time in a week

A New Mexico middle school was put on lockdown twice late last month when a band of migrants trying to evade border agents were found hiding on campus.

In the first instance at Santa Teresa Middle School, located steps from the Rio Grande outside of El Paso, six migrants were found outside on March 27, KFOX14 reported.

The school was placed on lockdown and agents from the El Paso Border Patrol sector were dispatched and apprehended the migrants.

“Being that those schools are so close to the border. The proximity of the border, these types of events happen weekly,” Border Patrol representative Refugio Socorro told KOAT.

“A lot of people in that area that try to evade arrest from our apprehensions do have a criminal history or have immigration issues. So that’s the reason why they just take off running and go through locations they’re not even familiar with,” he added.

The school is located about five miles from a gap in the border wall known as “The Anarpa Gap,” according to KOAT, which is a common illegal crossing and makes the school a frequent hideout for migrants trying to evade capture.

“It is common for Border Patrol Agents to receive calls from the community in the Sunland Park, NM area, especially those impacted by migrants who often conceal themselves inside of properties,” Border Patrol representatives said, referring to the community near the middle school.

Just a week before the latest incident at Santa Teresa, the school was sent into lockdown again on March 20 after another group of migrants were found on campus.

The incidents have left parents fearing for their children’s safety.

“We’re a little nervous because with the fear and nerves migrants have of being caught by immigration officials, we don’t know if they’d do something to our students,” mother Maria Gallegos told KFOX14.

The school district’s superintendent Travis Dempsey said the local police department has staffed Santa Teresa Middle with a resource officer tasked with monitoring the campus for migrants, while Customs and Border Protection said more agents are placed on duty in the area during school hours.