A staggering group of over 1,000 migrants gunned it for the Paso del Norte Port of Entry that is situated along the S-Mexico border between Texas and Chihuahua state this past Sunday in an attempt to force their way into the United States, as reported in a recent post to social media.
Bill Melugin, a reporter for Fox News, posted about the story via social media while tagging a video showing the gigantic group of people rushing to the Paso Del Norte Bridge, pushing past the Mexican side of the port of entry.
BREAKING: Our contact in Juarez, MX tells us a massive group of at least 1,000 migrants just attempted to rush a port of entry in El Paso in an effort to get into the United States. Video shows them pushing past the Mexican side of Paso Del Norte bridge. Awaiting CBP comment. pic.twitter.com/lxriIB3TSm
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) March 12, 2023
Melugin expressed that sources told local news outlets that authorities made use of crowd control tactics, with quite a few getting pushed back and forcing them to gather at a different smaller bridge close by.
A different group of migrants can be seen making their way across the Rio Grande river.
Another video from our contact. We’re told some crowd control measures were used (unclear which side of border), and a chunk of the group was repelled, and is now gathering at another smaller bridge, while some are trying to cross in the river. Waiting for more details from CBP. pic.twitter.com/PEFeHlF4KH
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) March 12, 2023
Agents with the U.S. Customs Border Patrol (CBP) went on to confirm for local media outlets that “a situation” was currently taking place in and around the Paso del Norte Port of Entry.
“According to CBP there is a temporary disruption to Paso Del Norte Bridge due to ‘something’ going on in Mexico,” the news outlet explained. “No more information at this time.”
The El Paso Police along with CBP authorities have also made a massive presence in the downtown area of El Paso, which sits roughly two miles from the southern border.
BREAKING: Another video from our contact showing this massive migrant group trying to rush Paso Del Norte bridge in El Paso in an attempt to get into the United States. pic.twitter.com/q9v2myX333
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) March 12, 2023
Additional video was taken and subsequently posted to social media which highlighted officers with CBP set up in various areas around El Paso in an effort to stop migrants from rushing the border by using the Paso Del Norte Bridge.
Video showing CBP officers stationed in El Paso stopping migrants from passing the border through the Paso Del Norte Bridge. pic.twitter.com/UHEdwDNW23
— All Source News (@All_Source_News) March 12, 2023
Officials with the CBP explained to Fox News in a statement that authorities had “implemented port hardening” measures for the international bridge to half the rush of migrants.
“CBP officials including members of the CBP Mobile Field Force implemented port hardening measures at the Paso Del Norte international bridge at 1:30 p.m. today temporarily preventing the northbound flow of traffic on the Mexican side of the border and approached the international boundary posing a potential threat to make a mass entry,” expressed the statement. “The CBP response included the deployment of physical barriers to restrict entry. As of 5 pm there is no traffic processing occurring at PDN.”
Area officials have also stated that two other “temporary disruptions” have taken place at the both the Stanton crossing and at the Bridge to America, sparking local law enforcement officials to create and man barricades.
