Migrants Hiding at School Sparks Fears for Students

A New Mexico superintendent called two incidents involving illegal migrants blending in among middle school children "concerning."

Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have increased annually under the Biden administration, totaling about 126,000 in fiscal year 2021 before climbing to about 144,000 and 171,000 in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, respectively, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.

New Mexico illegal immigration numbers totaled about 44,500 between October and February of the current fiscal year. Numbers nearly hit 11,600 in February, an increase of more than 3,000 from January and the highest month since October 1.

Gadsden Superintendent Travis Dempsey said that the two incidents occurred at Santa Teresa Middle School within a week of one another. The first incident happened on March 20, and again on Wednesday—the latter prompting the campus to enter "secure mode" for a 20-minute period and resulting in the arrest of six migrants by federal Border Patrol agents, according to KFOX in El Paso, Texas.

"It is concerning and it does at some level interrupt our educational process when we do things of this nature," Dempsey said.

The Gadsden Independent School District (GISD) and the middle schools are in Sunland Park.

Guillermo Carmona, communications director for the district, told Newsweek via email on Thursday that the GISD declined to comment on the two incidents or continued concerns.

A press release issued by the district and shared with Newsweek states that the March 20 incident involved Santa Teresa Middle School Principal Danielle Rodriguez utilizing the "rave panic button" as part of the K-12 school safety app to report suspicious activity.

A group of undocumented migrants entered the southern section of the campus, per officials, leading to the immediate placing of the "secure" status with a directive to "get inside and lock outside doors."

School officials worked in collaboration with the Sunland Park Police Department until the situation was deemed safe. Rodriguez texted the entire community about the event, and police allocated two officers to remain on campus to ensure safety.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the U.S. Border Patrol agents and the officers of the Sunland Park Police Department for their swift and professional response to this situation," the district said in the statement. "Thanks to their efforts, the safety and security of our students and staff were maintained throughout the incident."

Newsweek reached out to CBP and Sunland Park Police via email for comment.

CBP officials said in a statement yesterday that Border Patrol agents assigned to the Santa Teresa Station made the apprehensions in the early morning hours on Wednesday, outside Santa Teresa Middle School. Agents reportedly located the migrants after being advised by undisclosed on-site law enforcement agency.

The security measures put in place were precautionary, in response to the migrants reportedly observing CBP agents and other law enforcement near the school.

"It is common for Border Patrol Agents to receive calls from the community in the Sunland Park, New Mexico area, especially those impacted by migrants who often conceal themselves inside of properties," the U.S. El Paso Border Patrol sector said on Wednesday. "This is due to the proximity of the border and as such, many migrants attempt to evade arrest from the U.S. Border Patrol.

"Agents are always mindful of the safety and well-being of not only migrants but the public at large, especially in and around schools in this area."

However, the situation causes trepidation for some parents and guardians.

"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," parent Maria Gallegos told KFOX.

Update 3/28/24, 10:29 a.m. ET: This story was updated with a press release from the Gadsden Independent School District.