EAGLE PASS, Texas – In anticipation of the roughly 1,800 people arriving as part of a caravan to the Mexican city of Piedras Negras across from Eagle Pass, CBP has enhanced its security efforts in the area.
On Thursday Jan. 31, CBP became aware of a caravan of people from Central America traveling towards the border areas of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico—South of Eagle Pass, TX—and Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico—South of Del Rio, Texas. To ensure the Ports of Entry (POE) are not overrun by a large number of people attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, CBP has taken steps to harden the port.
Currently, hardening materials are arriving to the POEs in Eagle Pass, Texas, to act as impediments to illegal crossers. These include Connex containers, K-Rails and several spools of Concertina Wire (c-wire).
For now, CBP is relying on organic resources from Eagle Pass and other Texas ports of entry for staffing. However, on Feb. 5, U.S. Army personnel—including medical personnel, engineers and Military Police—arrived in Del Rio.
Texas Department of Public Safety, Eagle Pass Police Department and Maverick County Sheriff’s Office are also supporting the effort.
The Central Americans arriving in Piedras Negras traversed Mexico fairly quickly by using buses and trucks, to make their way to the border region.