“Sophisticated” smuggling tunnel found on US-Mexico border
A “sophisticated cross-border” tunnel connecting El Paso to Ciudad Juarez was uncovered by U.S. Border Patrol and special agents with Homeland Security Investigations on Friday, January 10.
Newsweek contacted the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
The discovery of the tunnel highlights ongoing border security challenges that President-elect Donald Trump will face when he takes office.
Trump has pledged to crack down on crime syndicates, drug smuggling, and illegal migration as he looks to implement his mass deportation policy.
While mass deportations and the border wall remain a focal point in immigration discourse, tunnels like the one uncovered in El Paso show how traffickers can bypass barriers.
Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images)
What To Know
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso said it is leading the investigation to prosecute those responsible for the tunnel.
Border Patrol officials described the discovery of the tunnel as “historic.”
HSI said that during the excavation of the “smuggling tunnel,” they determined it extends beneath the U.S.-Mexico border into the Boone Street storm drain in South-Central El Paso and measures approximately 4 feet wide and 6 feet high.
Authorities said the tunnel is supported by wooden beams, equipped with electricity and a ventilation system, and appears to have been constructed within the past year.
Border Patrol reported that their Confined Space Entry Team discovered the tunnel early Friday morning, adding that it extends from Juarez into the El Paso storm drain system.
HSI has been collaborating with Mexican authorities in Juarez to secure the underground breach on the border.
What People Are Saying
HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens said: “The uncovering of this tunnel showcases the success of our combined investigative efforts.”
“Transnational criminal organizations mistakenly think they can avoid detection by moving people and contraband underground. This recent discovery is a significant blow to their operations as it highlights our capability to disrupt their sophisticated smuggling networks.
El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good said in a press release: “We are proud of the Agents who discovered this smuggling infrastructure used by transnational criminal organizations.”
“Our Agents are relentless in searching and surveying every square mile of the El Paso Sector. With our partners, we are committed to investigating these illicit activities and bringing all perpetrators to justice —those who endanger lives in these hazardous environments and circumvent the legal pathways to entering the United States.”
FBI Special Agent In Charge John Morales said in a statement: “The United States Border Patrol’s discovery of this tunnel, and the subsequent disruption of Transnational Criminal Organizations utilizing it, underscores the vital importance of coordination and collaboration among our law enforcement agencies. This successful binational operation exemplifies the strong partnerships between agencies in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, working together to secure our shared border and protect our communities. These partnerships are critical in ensuring the safety and security of our communities and our nation as a whole.”
“The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our partners along the border to combat illegal criminal activity and address national security threats, and will continue to support the ongoing investigation into this tunnel.”
GOP Congressman Wesley Hunt said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “This alarming discovery underscores the urgent need to secure our borders and put an end to the flow of deadly drugs and human trafficking networks.”
What Happens Next
No arrests have been reported at this time and investigations remain ongoing.
