A massive group of at least 1,000 migrants rushed the Paso del Norte Port of Entry along the US-Mexico border between Texas and Chihuahua state on Sunday in an attempt to enter the United States, according to new video posted on social media.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin posted via Twitter a video showing a massive group of people running toward 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 said sources told the news outlet that authorities used crowd control tactics, with some getting repelled and causing them to assemble at another smaller bridge nearby.
Other migrants can be seen crossing 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
U.S. Customs Border Patrol (CBP) authorities confirmed to local media that “a situation” is currently happening at 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 reported. “No more information at this time.”
CBP authorities and El Paso Police have also made a large presence in downtown El Paso, approximately 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
More video captured and posted on social media showed CBP officers stationed in El Paso attempting to stop migrants from rushing the border via 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
CBP officials told Fox News in a statement that authorities “implemented port hardening” measures at the international bridge to stop 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,” the statement reads. “The CBP response included the deployment of physical barriers to restrict entry. As of 5 pm there is no traffic processing occurring at PDN.
Authorities said two other “temporary disruptions” occurred at the Stanton crossing and at the Bridge to America, causing law enforcement to set up barricades.
This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.