EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A large number of migrants in Mexico who were “posing a potential threat to make a mass entry” into the United States were prevented from cross a bridge leading to El Paso, Texas, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said.
Physical barriers were put up to restrict entry at the Paso Del Norte International Bridge on Sunday afternoon, spokesperson Roger Maier said in a statement.
Barricades also were used for a short time Sunday afternoon at an El Paso crossing at the Bridge of Americas and at one in Stanton, Maier said.
Traffic was reopened and flowing in both directions as of Sunday evening, he said.
Maier said the Office of Field Operations Special Response Team and U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted Customs officers.
It wasn’t immediately known what caused the attempted mass crossing.
A message seeking comment was left with the mayor’s office in El Paso.
Statement from CBP:
CBP is working to maintain the legal and orderly flow of entry to the U.S. while protecting the safety and security of legitimate trade and travel, CBP facilities and the CBP workforce.
CBP officers 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 after a large group of individuals formed on the Mexican side of the border and approached the international boundary posing a potential threat to make a mass entry. The CBP response included the deployment of physical barriers to restrict entry. As of 5 pm there is no traffic processing occurring at PDN.
There were also temporary disruptions at two other crossings because of appearance of groups of migrants. Barricades were used at the Stanton crossing from 2 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. and at the Bridge of the Americas from 2:45 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
The Office of Field Operations Special Response Team and U.S. Border Patrol agents have been assisting CBP officers.
Members of the public can monitor border crossing wait times on the CBP webpage. Information is updated hourly. The public can also use the city of El Paso international bridge website to monitor current traffic conditions.
