An official website of the United States government Office of Field Operations officers at the Eagle Pass International Bridge recently intercepted $1.7 million in mixed hard narcotics concealed within various areas of a passenger vehicle “We remain committed to working closely with our federal and international partners to prevent dangerous drugs from entering our communities These efforts underscore our mission to safeguard the American public while facilitating lawful trade and travel,” said Port Director Pete Beattie On May 1, CBP officers assigned to the Eagle Pass International Bridge encountered a 1995 Ford Explorer making entry from Mexico driven by a 39-year-old female Mexican citizen. The vehicle was selected for inspection, which included utilization of nonintrusive inspection equipment and screening by a (canine team) officers extracted 39 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 95.94 pounds (43.52 kg) 11 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 26.10 pounds (11.84kg) and six packages of alleged heroin weighing 14.68 pounds (6.66kg) for a total weight of 136.73 pounds (62.02kg) concealed within the vehicle The estimated street value of the seized narcotics is $1,281,054 in cocaine Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity We enhance the nation's security through innovation View a complete list of local and regional CBP social media accounts Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Sign up for TPR Today Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning Shelby Park in the Texas border city of Eagle Pass became a focal point in tensions between the state and the Biden administration over immigration enforcement The park lies adjacent to the Rio Grande and sits right next to an international bridge connecting Eagle Pass to the Mexican city of Piedras Negras More than a year after the State of Texas took over Shelby Park during the peak of illegal border crossings Eagle Pass residents say the development is bittersweet — the gates are open but ongoing military presence at the park has made them hesitant to fully embrace the space again For decades Shelby Park was a place where people around the community gathered: Children played baseball and soccer; the sound of Tejano music blasted at yearly festivals and carnivals a Vietnam veteran and retired teacher in Eagle Pass remembers a time when the park used to belong to the people We would go there and see fireworks and all that stuff that's something that the kids remember," he added That began to change as the park became a keystone for Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star — an $11 billion border security crackdown In January 2024 during an unprecedented number of immigrant crossings along the southern border the State of Texas fully took over the park In December 2023 — right before the Texas National Guard closed the gates — U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported nearly 52,000 immigrant encounters in the Del Rio sector That number sat at just under 1,000 in March 2025 black metal gates of the park quietly reopened But Operation Lone Star’s grip was still visible Shipping containers and concertina wire still lined the banks of the Rio Grande Surveillance helicopters still flew over the park "There is no longer a need for Texas to maintain northern-facing barriers though the state will maintain barriers and a presence on the border itself," said Andrew Mahaleris Additionally, the Pentagon announced in March it would send more active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border Amerika Garcia-Grewal, the co-director of the grassroots nonprofit Frontera Federation said that the “State of Texas has only abandoned the gates so they still have just as much machinery and men and equipment." Resident Jorge Villalpando said the park used to be a place the community came together for big event, including the annual springtime festival, Noches Mexicanas this event has been held at a smaller nearby park — significantly reducing fundraising efforts residents still don't have access to the only boat ramp on the Rio Grande Garcia-Grewal said using the riverfront was an important aspect of Shelby Park Easter weekend was a popular time for families to gather near the river — little girls in dresses posing with their baskets Priscilla Olivarez, senior policy attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center said the state’s takeover of the park had an impact on Eagle Pass residents: “Wanting to access a park is something that we can all relate to as Texans.” Villalpando questioned the need to have several state and federal agents patrolling the border “There are enough Border Patrols like they used to do it how did they do it before without all the National Guard being there?” he asked Eagle Pass residents said Shelby Park’s reopening was a step forward But they still hope for a future with baseball games After more than a year of being occupied by the state for its border security operations a 47-acre park in Eagle Pass has quietly been reopened for public use as state and national forces have withdrawn Located on the Rio Grande and next to an international bridge, Shelby Park was seized in January 2024 to be used as a staging area for Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and the Texas National Guard — against the wishes of Eagle Pass officials and some residents in the area Some residents began describing the park and surrounding areas as a war zone after state personnel and equipment moved in under the banner of Operation Lone Star An Abbott spokesperson confirmed Monday that law enforcement had withdrawn from the park Abbott Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris attributed the state’s withdrawal to record low border crossings and credited President Donald Trump for the change “Texas held the line against the Biden-Harris border crisis for the past four years and Governor Abbott looks forward to continuing to work closely with President Trump and his administration to protect our state and the nation," Mahaleris said Eagle Pass has been in the national spotlight as a locus of the border crisis, with Vice President JD Vance visiting Shelby Park in March alongside members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet Texas has spent over $11 billion in state money on Operation Lone Star, with $2.3 billion of it going to deploy state troopers to the Texas-Mexico border. Shortly after Trump began his second term, Abbott announced Texas would seek reimbursement for its border spending which includes almost $5 billion for constructing sections of border wall a group of Eagle Pass residents that hosts vigils for people who have died attempting to cross the border posted a Facebook Live video on Sunday of one of their members driving around and through Shelby Park but the barricade of shipping containers along the riverbank topped with concertina wire remained Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Texas’ breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase Choose an amount or learn more about membership. Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 a.m. for Bandera, Edwards, Kerr, and Real counties FORECASTSHARE PHOTOS & VIDEOQuestions remain after Shelby Park reopens in Eagle Pass after year-long closureby Darian Trotter | SBG San Antonio Staff Reports Texas — Shelby Park has reopened to the public for the first time in over a year allowing residents to once again enjoy the park's amenities The park had been closed since January 2024 when the state of Texas implemented concrete barriers and armored vehicles to secure the 2-mile section of border land Governor Greg Abbott had previously indicated that the park would reopen when migrant crossings decreased "I believe if we have a president in place who is going to enforce the laws that deny illegal entry into the United States of America that will be a time when the residents of Eagle Pass will be able to get their park back." Although there was no formal announcement about the reopening It was quite a loss when we couldn't use this park anymore because they closed it off to the public." Governor Abbott's office released a statement saying "Illegal crossings in Eagle Pass are at a record low there is no longer a need for Texas to maintain northern-facing barriers though the state will maintain barriers and a presence on the border itself." Park goers can now access the parking lots not all areas of the park are fully accessible A resident named Amerika expressed concerns "We still do not have full control of the park as a community All of the things that were scattered around the park are now concentrated just within the fence." The city of Eagle Pass reported a $2 million loss due to the state's occupation of the park raising questions about potential reimbursement there are concerns about whether the state might close the park gates again in the future and further updates are expected as more information becomes available Customs and Border Protection officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry detained a fugitive at the Eagle Pass International Bridge who had an outstanding felony warrant for capital murder charges “This apprehension underscores our unwavering commitment to keeping our borders secure and our communities safe,” said Port Director Pete Beattie The fugitive was detained when he applied for entry into the United States on April 30 at the Eagle Pass International Bridge as the passenger of a vehicle driven by a United States citizen CBP officers took custody of Aden Jeremiah Munoz The traveler was referred to CBP secondary Once the traveler was in the secondary inspection area officers confirmed he had an outstanding felony warrant for capital murder by terror threat/first degree homicide out of Travis County Sheriff’s Office in Austin CBP officers confirmed the warrant to be active and turned Munoz over to the custody of the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office in Eagle Pass The National Crime Information Center is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses CBP officers have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office at X at @DFOLaredo on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsSpencer Heath Rocky Garza MAVERICK COUNTY Texas – Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal crash that closed a road between Eagle Pass and Uvalde according to the Uvalde County Precinct 6 Constable’s Office Uvalde Constable Emmanual Zamora said on Facebook that first responders with Maverick County and the Texas Department of Public Safety are on the scene Zamora shared that one person was trapped inside a vehicle The road is expected to be closed until around 6 p.m KSAT will update you once more information becomes available Copyright 2025 by KSAT - All rights reserved Email Newsletters KSAT RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us KSAT Internships Careers at KSAT Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Texas - A man is recovering after a long night out led to him waking up inside a rail car nearly 150 miles away the Maverick County Sheriff's Office announced that a man was rescued after being found inside a Union Pacific rail car The man allegedly told authorities that he had been drinking on Sunday night in San Antonio and somehow woke up inside the rail car after being transported nearly 150 miles to the southern border Due to initial uncertainty regarding his immigration status Border Patrol agents were called to the scene he was deemed not to be an undocumented immigrant and the matter was returned to the sheriff's office and the case is being investigated as an 'unusual incident,' with the rail security company reviewing the circumstances of how the man ended up inside the freight car The man was safely removed from the train and is now in stable condition Vance participated in an aerial tour of the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday and met with law enforcement officials as part of a trip meant to highlight tougher immigration policies that the White House says has led to dramatically fewer arrests for illegal crossings since Donald Trump began his second term Joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Vance is highest-ranking members of the Republican administration to visit the southern border the trio visited a Border Patrol detention facility before participating in a roundtable discussion with local and national participants State authorities say Vance's itinerary also likely includes a visit to Shelby Park a municipal greenspace along the Rio Grande that Republican Gov Greg Abbott seized from federal authorities last year in a feud with the Biden administration Abbott accused that administration of not doing enough to curb illegal crossings "Border security is national security," Hegseth told Fox News before the trip Trump made a crackdown on immigration a centerpiece of his reelection campaign pledging to halt the tide of migrants entering the U.S and stop the flow of fentanyl crossing the border he imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada saying neither is doing enough to address drug trafficking and illegal immigration "They are now strongly embedded in our country But we are getting them out and getting them out fast," Trump said of migrants living in the U.S illegally as he delivered an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night Although Trump has not made a trip to the border since Inauguration Day the visit of three of his top officials is evidence of the scope of his administration's focus on the issue He has tasked agencies across the federal government with working to overhaul border and immigration policy moving well beyond the Department of Homeland Security the traditional home of most such functions Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico plummeted 39% in January from a month earlier though they've been falling sharply since well before Trump took office on Jan 20 from an all-time high of 250,000 in December 2023 Mexican authorities increased enforcement within their own borders and President Joe Biden introduced severe asylum restrictions early last summer The Trump administration has showcased its new initiatives including putting shackled immigrants on U.S military planes for deportation fights and sending some to the U.S It has also expanded federal agents' arrests of people in the U.S illegally and abandoned programs that gave some permission to stay Trump border czar Tom Homan said migrants with criminal records have been prioritized in early efforts to round up and deport people in the U.S but were in the country illegally," Homan told reporters outside the White House on Tuesday about 6,500 new active duty forces have been ordered to deploy to the southern border there were about 2,500 troops already there largely National Guard troops on active duty orders along with a couple of hundred active duty aviation forces Hegseth approved orders to send a large portion of an Army Stryker brigade and a general support aviation battalion to the border they are expected to deploy in the coming weeks Troops are responsible for detection and monitoring along the border but don't interact with migrants attempting to illegally cross Biden tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with tackling the root causes of immigration during his administration seeking to zero in on why so many migrants were leaving their homelands and coming to the U.S seeking asylum or trying to make it into the country illegally Harris made her first visit to the border in June 2021 about 3 1/2 months deeper into Biden's term than Vance's trip in the opening weeks of Trump's second term Trump has routinely joked that Harris was in charge of immigration policy but didn't visit the border or even maintain close phone contact with federal officials Vance's trip also comes as the Trump administration is considering the use of the Alien Enemy Act of 1798 to detain and deport Venezuelans based on a proclamation labeling the gang Tren de Aragua an invasion force that could be acting at the behest of that country's government official with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations It is unclear how close the decisions are to being finalized Some officials have questioned whether the gang is acting as a tool for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has not recognized as that country's legitimate leader There are some concerns that invoking the law would require the U.S the 1798 law allows the president to deport any noncitizen from a country with which the U.S and it has been mentioned by Trump as a possible tool to speed up his mass deportations Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed to this report We can’t wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. Choose an amount or learn more about membership took control of the park in January 2024 following a rise in border crossings with the border grassroots organization Frontera Federation documented her recent visit to the park on social media "The parking lot downtown has actually got the door open right there," she said "There is no more panel fence there -- there is nothing I also want to show you that these gates are open This is the first time in a year we are able to enter without having to answer the questions from guards." The Texas National Guard is now in an area between the parking lot and an international bridge The only public boat ramp in Eagle Pass providing access to the Rio Grande is still blocked Show Breaking News BarCloseTexasRebecca Salinas EAGLE PASS Customs and Border Protection officially closed a temporary processing facility in Eagle Pass In an Instagram post, Acting Chief Border Patrol Agent Milton Moreno said the soft-sided processing center, otherwise known as “Firefly,” closed on Tuesday due to a decrease in apprehensions along the Texas-Mexico border. Agents who worked at the facility will be re-assigned to work in field operations, Moreno said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Milton Moreno (@usbpchiefdrt) The 153,000-square-foot facility opened in July 2022 The facility was built with a mass capacity of 1,000 people The facility’s purpose was “to safely and expeditiously process individuals in U.S Border Patrol custody,” officials said at the time it opened CBP said the shelter replaced a smaller facility in Eagle Pass as the border experienced an increase of people crossing from Mexico into Texas at the time Apprehensions on the border have since decreased, according to a new report from CBP. Apprehensions averaged about 330 per day in February — the lowest average in CBP history Detentions along the Southwest border specifically dropped to less than 300 per day CBP attributed the drop in apprehensions to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies The Trump Administration will reopen a federal immigration detention center in Dilley The Associated Press contributed to this report Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019 Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Milton Moreno (@usbpchiefdrt) Office of Field Operations officers assigned to the Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized alleged liquid methamphetamine that totaled more than $10 million in street value “Our frontline CBP officers maintained strict vigilance utilized high tech tools and took down a significant amount of liquid methamphetamine,” said Port Director Pete Beattie “Seizures like these illustrate perfectly CBP’s ongoing commitment to upholding CBP’s border security mission and protecting our communities.” The seizure occurred on April 20 at the Eagle Pass International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 46-year-old female Mexican citizen driving a 2000 Dodge pickup for secondary inspection Following a thorough examination that included a nonintrusive inspection system scan CBP officers discovered a total of nearly 1,149 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine within an external fuel tank The narcotics have a street value of $10,562,320 Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver and initiated a criminal investigation by Destany Fuller | Photojournalist Jarryd Luna TX - A viral video shows two students repeatedly punching another student at Eagle Pass High School Both of the students involved are now in custody The video has brought in thousands of views also catching the attention of district staff and police Superintendent Samuel Mijares' office shared a statement with us Friday afternoon which says in part: "We are making sure that all procedures under the law are being taken under advisement and thought out We want to make sure that this will never happen to another one of our students again." "[I] don't know the background of what transpired with that but it does look like a child who was really helpless in a really terrible situation," said Maurine Molak Co-Founder of the organization 'David's Legacy' Molak and several others online said the number of bystanders is concerning "So it's really important for us to recognize that there are probably other things that are going on at the same time." "This isn't just a one-day fix," said Building Futures founder it starts with conversations like this that the community leaders the school districts and the parents — you have to ask the questions Eagle Pass ISD officials confirmed the pair was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury Office of Field Operations officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized more than $491,000 in cocaine hidden in a passenger vehicle On April 2, CBP officers at the Camino Real International Bridge referred a 2014 Ford pickup truck driven by a 57-year-old female Mexican citizen for a secondary examination. During the examination, which included utilization of nonintrusive inspection equipment and screening by a canine team CBP officers discovered 16 packages containing a total of 36.81 pounds (16.70 kg) of alleged cocaine concealed within the vehicle The cocaine has a total estimated street value of $491,581 “Our frontline CBP officers applied their inspection skills training and technology and seized a compact but significant amount of cocaine,” said Port Director Pete Beattie “Seizures like these reinforce CBP’s border security mission and aptly illustrate that attempts to bring in controlled substances can result in serious criminal consequences.” This processing center is known as Firefly and Tuesday was the last day that the U.S flag and the Border Patrol flag flew over this center this facility was supposed to handle around 1,000 migrants being processed was filled with people processing documents They had so many people that some of the documents had to be processed in other areas of the United States we were told that about 40 people were here on the last day of operation Two years and eight months after Firefly opened For Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Del Rio Sector but the men and women of the Border Patrol met the challenge The facility opened in July of 2022 to address a high volume of crossings there were 480,000 apprehensions that year The highest number of people at the facility was in December of 2023 It took hundreds of agents and civilians to keep this operation running 24/7 "We had 250 Border Patrol agents assigned to Firefly it was 650 personnel working out of this facility." when you have so many agents working here and not out on the border "We didn't have the law enforcement presence over the 228 miles of border that we have in our area of responsibility So you can say that the border was completely wide open." The situation got so bad that at one point the checkpoints going into the interior of the country were left unmanned there was an 11-day span where there was zero law enforcement presence because all efforts were concentrated either at this location or at the Eagle Pass port of entry Moreno was asked how he felt about the closing of this facility "It was a very difficult moment for us We joined the Border Patrol to secure our borders knowing that we concentrated on one mile of the 228 miles we needed to hold ourselves accountable," he said "We did not have an idea of who was coming into this country illegally we made efforts and continued to coordinate with other federal and local law enforcement agencies that assisted us in patrolling those routes of ingress and egress Chief Moreno thanked everyone for coming over "You were here when the facility opened and now you're here at the closing of it." "I remember walking through and asking people 'Where are you from?' The majority of the people would respond but the majority were coming in from Venezuela." Now illegally will be processed and then deported back into Mexico Office of Field Operations officers at Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Thursday seized more than $1.4 million in cocaine in a single enforcement action “Our frontline officers continue to maintain rigorous vigilance and that dedication coupled with non-intrusive inspection system technology yielded this significant cocaine seizure,” said Port Director Pete Beattie 6 at Camino Real International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2013 Freightliner tractor hauling a fuel tanker for secondary inspection CBP officers conducted a secondary examination that included utilization of CBP canines and a non-intrusive inspection system CBP officers discovered 42 packages containing a total of 108.29 pounds of alleged cocaine hidden within the tractor The narcotics had an estimated street value of $1,445,896 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents initiated a criminal investigation into the seizure Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news Office of Field Operations officers assigned to Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized over $90,000 in a single enforcement action The seizure occurred on April 6 at Camino Real International Bridge when CBP officers referred a 2023 F-150 towing a 2002 Ford Explorer for secondary examination officers discovered $90,588 in unreported U.S currency within a duffle bag inside the F-150 and in a ketchup bottle and coffee can inside the Ford Explorer “This enforcement action illustrates CBP’s ongoing commitment to our priority border security mission,” said Port Director Pete Beattie which is often proceeds of illicit endeavors denies the profitmaking from such activity.” CBP seized the currency along with both vehicles It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000 but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo, on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news Texas – A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 27-year-old woman according to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office Maverick County deputies were dispatched around 5 a.m Upon arrival, deputies found Alex Lopez, 26, outside the residence, the sheriff’s office said in a Monday press conference. Deputies entered the home and found a woman Lopez was detained for questioning at the scene deputies stated that Lopez was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with evidence Lopez remains in the Maverick County Detention Center with bonds totaling $700,000 The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to visit Eagle Pass on Wednesday The border city had been at the center of the fight between the Biden administration and the State of Texas over immigration enforcement It was also a hotspot for illegal crossings at the end of 2023 but has since seen much fewer migrant encounters over the past year Vance was expected to get an aerial tour of the border city visit an immigration processing center and deliver remarks on the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies in Shelby Park a public park on the banks of the Rio Grande seized by the State of Texas Amerika Garcia Greywal is with the Eagle Pass Border Coalition which assists migrants across the Rio Grande in Piedras Negras She said even though the area has a heavy presence of Texas National Guard soldiers it has been the Mexican government that has stopped people from making it there the Mexican national guard out patrolling the riverbanks and keeping people from even getting on busses to come up toward the border and they were also searching vehicles on the Mexican side to keep any fentanyl and other drugs from coming into the United States," she explained She added that she hopes Vance will be able to see firsthand the immigration enforcement Mexico is doing as negotiations continue to put an end to President Trump's 25 percent tariffs that took effect on Tuesday A large base camp is currently being constructed in the city for Texas National Guard soldiers deployed on state orders Vance's visit came just one day after President Trump addressed Congress for the first time of his second term. NPR reported that he "spent portions of his remarks highlighting his immigration-related priorities including his declaration of a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border the deployment of military to the border and arrest rates." NPR explained that "Trump asked for funding from Congress to carry out 'the largest deportation operation in American history larger even than current record holder President Dwight D Eisenhower,' a reference to 1954's 'Operation Wetback,' — a racist term used to refer to migrants who crossed the Rio Grande government estimates that the effort rounded up more than a million Mexican immigrants and some U.S NPR added that New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat delivered the Democrats' rebuttal in Spanish and he highlighted an executive order making English the national language although we have been here for 20 generations we all came to the United States of America for the American dream — the possibility to achieve a better life and create a better future for our children by working hard embracing diversity and taking the opportunity this great nation gives us all," Espaillat said in Spanish Espaillat added: "Trump's migration policy is not designed the way he and his allies say to deport those who really should be deported We want a new immigration law that secures the border the agricultural workers and maintains our families unified." Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsMason Hickok Texas – For the first time in its 176-year history the City of Eagle Pass has named a woman as its chief of police Amy Gonzalez was announced as the new chief during a press conference Wednesday morning History has been made in the City of Eagle Pass! For the first time in our city’s 176-year history, a woman has been appointed Chief of Police. We proudly congratulate Chief Amy Gonzalez on this groundbreaking achievement. pic.twitter.com/e8evSazWxb Her appointment comes after the city conducted interviews with eight candidates including three current Eagle Pass Police Department employees Gonzalez began her career with the department 26 years ago, according to a city Facebook post “We did not take this decision lightly,” Mayor Rolando Salinas said in the release “We followed a deliberate and transparent process to identify the best person to lead our police department and we are confident that Amy Gonzalez will serve our community with professionalism and integrity.” Gonzalez had been serving as interim chief of police following the resignation of former chief Federico “Fred” Garza on Dec according to the Eagle Pass Business Journal Mason Hickok is a digital journalist at KSAT He graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a communication degree and a minor in film studies He also spent two years working at The Paisano History has been made in the City of Eagle Pass! For the first time in our city’s 176-year history, a woman has been appointed Chief of Police. We proudly congratulate Chief Amy Gonzalez on this groundbreaking achievement. pic.twitter.com/e8evSazWxb Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsRyan Cerna John Paul Barajas Adam Barraza Texas – Vice President JD Vance visited the Texas-Mexico border and met with law enforcement officials on Wednesday The Associated Press stated that Vance also participated in an aerial tour as part of a trip meant to highlight President Donald Trump’s immigration policies Vance was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard The visit was scheduled a day after Trump’s first joint address to Congress in his second term Watch Vance’s full remarks in the video below During a question-and-answer session with reporters on Wednesday Vance shared Trump’s hope to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border “by the end of the term.” Trump last visited Eagle Pass in February 2024 where he discussed the state-federal clash on the issue of border security Vance’s visit made him the highest-ranking official to visit the border town during Trump’s second administration Ryan Cerna is a digital news trainee at KSAT Cerna graduated with degrees in Journalism and Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas in 2024 He has worked in newsrooms in Austin and New York City before his time in San Antonio John Paul Barajas is a reporter at KSAT 12 he worked at KRGV 5 in the Rio Grande Valley He has a degree from the University of Houston spend time on the water and check out good eats and drinks Office of Field Operations officers at Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized undeclared commodities valued at more than $1.9 million in a single export violation enforcement action.  “This outbound enforcement action illustrates CBP’s ongoing commitment to our priority border security mission while facilitating lawful commerce,” said Port Director Pete Beattie The original seizure occurred on December 2 at the Eagle Pass Camino Real International Bridge when CBP officers conducting outbound examinations referred a 2012 Kenworth T800 tractor pulling a trailer for secondary inspection The shipment’s export invoice included a merchandise description of “Other made-up articles including dress” with a total value of $7,936 including non-intrusive inspection systems CBP officers discovered anomalies within the merchandise Physical examination resulted in 26 pallets of cigarettes with 1,050 boxes or 52,500 cartons and four pallets of protein powder with 216 boxes or 1,296 bags The appraised value of the merchandise totaled $1,939,566 with the large volume of seized cigarettes accounting for the bulk of the appraised value.  CBP seized the merchandise and recently issued a penalty of $16,971.   Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news by Yami Virgin and Photojournalist Paul Sanchez We have seen how migrants cross into the U.S but this is the first time we have been allowed to record the process of how they are deported or expelled Arriving at the Firefly Processing Center around 7 a.m. we followed the first group of the day scheduled to be sent back to Mexico Acting Chief of Border Patrol for the Del Rio Sector Milton Moreno met us at the area where migrants exit and board buses under the watchful eyes of agents "We transport them over to our processing facility We ensure that they are who they claim to be and if they don’t have any criminal charges pending here in the U.S.," said Acting Interim Chief Milton Moreno they won’t be released to Mexico so easily "Those that do have a criminal history are processed accordingly and turned over to ICE for further detention and processing," Moreno added Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can hold migrants longer while verifying their records and determining if they can be repatriated to their country of origin those without a criminal record boarded buses heading to one of the bridges in Eagle Pass This repatriation process happens daily and is coordinated with Mexican Immigration authorities "We are able to quickly return these illegal aliens to Mexico and the government of Mexico has been a great partner in accepting them," said Moreno The list of migrants Mexico now accepts includes Cubans Executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump now allow the deportation of individuals who were previously under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) we coordinate with the government of Mexico and our counterparts in Mexican immigration they either transport them into the interior by bus or plane or repatriate them to their home countries," Moreno explained Moreno says this system appears to be cutting down on the number of repeat crossings "Are you seeing people come back?" we asked we used to see repeat offenders—the same person We don’t see that anymore because they’re returned to the interior of Mexico or their native country making it harder to start the journey again," Moreno responded who were then transferred into Mexican immigration buses under supervision Moreno says that this has given Border Patrol agents time to focus on targeting criminals attempting to enter the country illegally focusing more on targeting criminal aliens and sheriffs to enhance border security," he said Moreno believes this strategy is key to preventing individuals from entering the U.S He also said the current administration is supporting their enforcement efforts and we’ll enhance not just border security but security for the entire country." EAGLE PASS — When the federal government contemplated building a border fence more than 15 years ago that would cut through this South Texas city Ranchers scoffed, one claiming, “I think it’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of.” Skepticism spread among residents who noted the pull of economic opportunities had always drawn migrants into the U.S But the city was outmatched. Ultimately, the federal government built a 1.8-mile long, 14-foot-tall black metal fence that slices around a municipal golf course and Shelby Park, which has re-emerged as the front lines of a new battle — one between the state of Texas and the federal government Wedged in the middle are the residents who miss their park a local activist with a kayaking business he used to operate from the park Fuentes was among a series of speakers at a tiny rally Saturday to demand the state return Shelby Park which was seized against the city’s wishes The event — attended by fewer than 100 people many from El Paso — was the latest call for freedom from some locals who feel they are being occupied by the state of Texas with its $11 billion border security mission Through the program, the state has deployed thousands of National Guard troops to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border and Department of Public Safety troopers who arrest migrants on state charges Eagle Pass has become a focal point of the state’s efforts in many ways. Texas is building an 80-acre military base to house troops here And the state also took over the city park The saga over Shelby Park began last summer when Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas agreed to declare it private property at the state’s request so that troopers could arrest migrants for trespassing Salinas and the city council later rescinded the agreement following residents’ complaints Salinas said he received a call from a DPS director who told him the state had taken over the park “That is not a decision that we agreed to,” Salinas said at the time This is not something that we asked for as a city.” Greg Abbott’s office did not respond Saturday to a request for comment Among the locals who lament the park’s closure is Jose Corpus a 52-year-old who was born in Eagle Pass and raised in Piedras Negras across the river a Fourth of July bash or an international festival that celebrated the connections between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras The park Corpus sees now — mostly from above while crossing the international bridge into Mexico — is a scary sight that reminds him of a warzone filled with reams of concertina wire and uniformed soldiers clenching long guns “It’s difficult to explain the feeling,” he said frustrated that our political leaders don’t represent us I pay money — my representation is not free.” In front of Shelby Park on Saturday morning the crowd at the rally milled about in the sweltering heat most sat or stood under shade cast by trees and tents DPS troopers in two SUVs parked on each end of the block A floating buoy barrier piñata hung on a string between utility poles in the middle of the street a group of kids beat the orange papier-mâché balls until candy rained down on them Texas’ floating buoy barrier remained in the water That includes the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center and the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley The city of Dilley tells us the company that runs the South Texas Family Residential Center is preparing to open the immigration facility’s doors again As of now they have not received any immigrant families yet but the City of Dilley tells us that could happen within the next two months very well-trained group that provides services so I can’t say anything negative about the operation,” said Henry Arredondo Arredondo said he’s visited the privately run South Texas Family Residential Center multiple times and has never noticed poor conditions Trudy Taylor Smith with the Children's Defense Fund – Texas said when the facility was open during the last Trump Administration Children frequently left the facility in poor health even if they had entered healthy,” said Taylor Smith “In 2018 there was a toddler who tragically died after she and her mother were detained for 20 days inside the facility at Dilley,” said Taylor Smith Since the facility stopped receiving immigrant families in 2021 a local woman who didn’t want to be identified told us local businesses have been struggling because my job was right up the road from there not much business has been going through,” said the woman Arredondo said the immigration detention facility doesn’t only bring money to local businesses so it is a boost to our budget,” said Arredondo Texas – (Realty News Report) – Warehouse development activity is becoming relatively brisk in Eagle Pass a Texas border town that has a recent history as a chaotic immigrant border-crossing location which has frontage on the border-forming Rio Grande river already has seven warehouse development land parcels under contract says commercial real estate broker Enrique Volkmer of Lee & Associates – Houston The 1,761-acre Empire Industrial Park, where the concrete streets have not yet been completed, has been attracting interest from industrial real estate developers in addition to “end-user” companies that are staking out land positions A 136,000-SF speculative warehouse is expected to be completed in the coming months Volkmer recently handled the sale of 10 acres in the Empire Industrial Park to Pilot Travel Centers LLC which just broke ground on a truck stop with diesel fuel and gas to serve traffic heading to and from Mexico which has 750 truck stops in North America the company led by famed investor Warren Buffett The new truck stop will enhance international trade through Eagle Pass “This is an important project that will spearhead further development and growth in the area,” says Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas “We thank the owners for their investment and trust in our community Far more important to Eagle Pass’s economic trade potential is the expansion of the Camino Real International Bridge over the Rio Grande is expanding the bridge from six lanes to 12 lanes The international bridge is about two miles from the Empire Industrial Park where Volkmer is selling land The industrial park is being developed by a partnership of two Eagle Pass families Eagle Pass lies across the border from the town  of Piedras Negras which is close to manufacturing facilities operated by General Motors Eagle Pass is about 330 miles west/southwest of Houston has great potential to grow as an international port because Laredo Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras is an underutilized port It’s a new artery between Mexico and the United States It’s a pressure relief valve from Laredo,” says Volkmer who expects several million square feet of warehouse space to be built in Eagle Pass in the next few years Following last year’s opening of Camp Eagle where over a thousand Texas National Guard troops are stationed the border-crossing chaos has mostly vanished normalized border situation in Eagle Pass today “is good for business,” Volkmer says courtesy Lee & Associates – Houston THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT PODCAST LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Danny Rice of Colliers LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Trey Odom of Avera LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Kris Larson of Downtown Houston + LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Jim Carman of Howard Hughes Holdings LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Jeff Havsy of Moody’s Analytics LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Sam Scott of CommGate LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with John S. Moody, Jr. of Moody Law Group LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Scott Martin of Granite Properties LISTEN: THE RALPH BIVINS PROJECT with Robert Clay of Clay Development File: Eagle Pass: From Border Town to Boom Town and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" downtown Eagle Pass lands a plethora of people thanks to the town’s proximity to the border folks traverse between our countries bringing business to both sides One of the most popular stops in the Lone Star State for foreigners and locals alike is Eagle Grocery “I remember getting in trouble all the time for stealing candy look at that guy taking some more candy off the shelf,’” said Jaime Rodriguez Jaime hasn’t checked out on his family’s legacy He’s keeping Eagle Grocery flying high for people who prefer the feel of a small-town market we’d walk into here and this place was huge to us We’d come in here and sweep the floors and work in the meat market And then my parents came into the business in I would think the early ’80s I’m the third generation now that’s in charge of keeping the family business up and thriving in downtown Eagle Pass.” You’ll find South Texas staples at Eagle Grocery like chili peppers “Both my parents are 80 years old and they still come to work every morning and they’re here all day long “So they’ve set the bar high for someone like myself and especially for someone like my son who grew up in these technology ages So a lot of times they’re the first ones here and they’re the last ones to leave.” Jaime’s parents both played important roles when it comes to running a successful business COO and anything that you’d like to call her she’s got a knack for business,” said Jaime “My dad has been shaking customer’s hands for as long as I remember People come in and say hello to him every day as he walks through the door and he thanks him for the patronage and he walks him in and tells them goodbye and thank you on the way out.” Another aspect of Eagle Grocery that makes it stand out is the ridiculous amount of racks they have hanging from the rafters our patron city in Mexico started calling us La Tienda Los Ganados because they would come in and everybody would see all the deers hanging on the wall,” said Jaime “So they started referring to us as La Tienda Los Ganados Each one of the mounts from as far back as the 40’s has some sort of story “My grandfather had a great relationship with all the ranchers and we’re the only business in the ’50s that would deliver groceries to all the local ranches here and in return for that they’d give us access to hunt on the ranches,” explained Jaime “So we grew up being able to hunt these whitetails before whitetails became a big business in Texas My first deer that was killed with my grandparents Then deers that I’ve killed with my sons are now hanging inside and they come in and see the deers that we have in the store and they say Bagging a big buck every winter isn’t the only family tradition at Eagle Grocery either this family is big into saying ‘Gig ‘em.’ “I went to school at A&M,” said Jaime “My eldest son is a graduate of Texas A&M College Station My second son is a graduate of Texas A&M College Station My third son is going to graduate in May from Texas A&M in College Station and my fourth son is in Mays Business School in Texas A&M College Station So that’s a lot of us Aggies that are coming through there.” and border have seen big changes over the years A family business dedicated to serving the community and catching a little Aggie football on Saturdays “I’ve seen our business grow,” said Jaime and I’ve seen the love and passion my parents had ‘My goal was to make sure that this family business and their legacy continued to prosper.’ So when you think of downtown Eagle Pass you think of Benny and Angie Rodriguez and the Rodriguez family and the business that we’ve created in downtown Eagle Pass So it’s important for me to continue that legacy in our community.” Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More which has been the epicenter of the state’s border security effort Shelby Park’s reopening comes a little over a year after the nearly 50-acre municipal park along the Rio Grande was closed to the public by state troopers back in January 2024 Texas withdrew its state National Guard troops from the formerly militarized gates closed to citizens and journalists the last 15 months “The state turned our park into a war zone then retreated into their air-conditioned tents on the floodplain and pretended everything was normal,” said Amerika Garcia Grewal At the height of the immigration crisis during President Joe Biden’s administration Shelby Park saw an unprecedented number of asylum seekers and migrants illegally crossing the Rio Grande from neighboring Mexico the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard over 531,700 immigrants who crossed the border illegally were detained with another 51,800 criminal arrests made Those numbers have not been independently verified Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said at the time of the closure that it was done without the city’s permission and a Texas Department of Public Safety official told him the state was taking custody of the park through a disaster declaration.  Salinas told Spectrum News on Monday that Shelby Park was opened a few days ago but he didn’t get any notification from the state Salinas said he reached out to state officials and he would send an official notification of the park reopening once he has one.  Despite the lack of an official notification Salinas said people are already using the park Greg Abbott’s office confirmed the reopening of the park and credited it to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown “Because of President Trump’s swift and decisive leadership in securing the border illegal crossings in Eagle Pass are at a record low though the state will maintain barriers and a presence on the border itself,” the spokesperson said in a statement and Governor Abbott looks forward to continuing to work closely with President Trump and his administration to protect our state and the nation.”  Shelby Park became a point of contention between federal and state officials.  The seizure of Shelby Park was a part of the state’s multi-billion dollar border mission, Operation Lone Star.  FORECASTSHARE PHOTOS & VIDEOVice President Vance visits Eagle Pass highlights drop in illegal border crossingsby Jordan Elder Texas - Vice President JD Vance got an up close look at the Texas border Wednesday but the headline of the trip was what he didn't see: illegal crossings This visit comes the day after the president's address to a joint session of Congress Vance touted the Trump administration's accomplishments so far in bringing those crossing and apprehension numbers down "We’ve cut the number of border crossings from 1,500 a day to 30 a day," Vance said But Vance says there's still a lot of work to be done with mass deportations and interior enforcement which is why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were there too "The defense department has assets that we can bring to bear but actual planning capabilities that enhance what Border Patrol is already doing," Hegseth said "There are many of them that we don’t know who they are We don’t know where they are," Director Gabbard said of some of the people who crossed the border illegally Crossings in Eagle Pass have been down for several months now Vance credited this administration's policies and President Trump's election for that drop Other experts credit Mexico's actions too sending troops and resources to their border When asked about the drop in crossings toward the end of the Biden administration Vance said it was the election and preliminary Trump administration strategies that caused people to stop trying to enter the U.S Vance also met with Texas Governor Greg Abbott who recently asked the federal government to reimburse the state for a lot of the measures Vance got to see It's unclear if the two got to talk about that possibility but Vance did talk about new opportunities for the border wall which Texas has continued building but a camera picks up somebody two miles away who’s about to come across the border," Vance told reporters "We’re using artificial intelligence to make us better at the job of border enforcement but we’ve gotta make sure technology is deployed across the American Southern Border." The two made it clear that Texas and the federal government are partners in this effort aiming for no illegal crossings or if people do cross Vance's press conference was held in Shelby Park which was once the busiest crossing site in the nation This was the first time in about a year that our crew was able to access the area the State of Texas even closed the park off to Border Patrol officials under the Biden administration Border Patrol agents and their mounted unit were present today which is another sign of the state-federal partnership By Aarón TorresAustin Bureau Correspondent Abbott’s office confirmed Monday morning that Shelby Park which sits on the banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass was again open to the public amid plummeting border crossings in the first few months of President Donald Trump’s administration though the state will maintain barriers and a presence on the border itself,” the governor’s spokesperson It’s not clear when the park reopened to the public or what kind of presence soldiers with the Texas Military Department or troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety will maintain at the park Breaking NewsGet the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy The Eagle Pass Business Journal reported Sunday that the park was open to the public last week Mahaleris did not immediately respond to follow-up questions asking if the policy change is permanent or if the state would take control of the park if crossings rise The TMD referred questions about Shelby Park to the governor’s office DPS did not respond to an email seeking comment on Monday City spokesperson Valeria Flores said Eagle Pass officials did not have information about the policy change an Eagle Pass resident who runs a border vigil to honor those who have died trying to cross the Rio Grande posted a video on Facebook on Sunday afternoon showing that soldiers were no longer standing at a gate to Shelby Park’s entrance to screen individuals who wanted to enter The state seizing control of Shelby Park in January 2024 made international headlines and surprised city officials Texas officials fenced off the park from the public Abbott later said the state took control of the park to crack down on illegal border crossings blaming President Joe Biden’s administration for not doing enough to combat illegal immigration Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 which used Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border to arrest and charge migrants with state crimes for criminal trespassing Texas lawmakers have spent $11.1 billion to fund Operation Lone Star a month before the state took control of the park Border Patrol agents encountered 71,095 individuals in the Del Rio sector crossings started trending downward in the last few months of the Biden administration after strict limits on asylum claims at the border were imposed Border Patrol encountered 3,460 individuals in the Del Rio sector when agents encountered more than 16,700 individuals according to Customs and Border Protection data Border Patrol agents in that area encountered 895 individuals Last month, Vice President JD Vance visited the U.S.-Mexico border — becoming the highest-ranking federal official to visit the international border since the Trump administration took office. At a news conference, Vance highlighted the border security actions the administration had taken, including sending U.S. troops to various areas of the southern border to limit crossings. Vance held the news conference at Shelby Park. Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsStephania Jimenez Adam Barraza a city at the epicenter of the immigration debate Eagle Pass is the county seat of Maverick County a former Democratic stronghold that supported Donald Trump in November The county’s switch from blue to red marked the first time in more than 50 years that they elected a Republican presidential candidate around 57,000 people live in Maverick County an area considered a “hot spot” for border crossings which fronts about 2.5 miles of the Rio Grande it was just...a little scary for a little bit But with all the law enforcement presence that we already have and those that have come in to support our community a restaurant about a mile from the border in Eagle Pass we would not have an issue with everything that’s going on,” said Liz Lerma “I want lowering down the inflation on everything prices go down on everything,” said Fabian Casares “Not being able to pay and struggling throughout going to college I think that’s something that scares me,” said Abby Morales President-elect Donald Trump will take office on Jan he confirmed he would declare a national emergency once he’s in the White House to remove immigrants living in the U.S One woman told us she hopes Trump focuses on the needs of the people on the U.S “Why are we more concerned about the people who are crossing over who’s also an advocate for survivors of domestic violence Adam Barraza is a photojournalist at KSAT 12 and an El Paso native after earning a degree from San Antonio College and the University of the Incarnate Word He’s also a diehard Dodgers fan and an avid sneakerhead News | Feb 20 Location:  at the ranch near Highmore             The whole crew at Eagle Pass Ranch presented an outstanding set of bulls for their annual production sale.  This was a fantastic sale These are long age bulls that offer more size and muscle Eagle Pass Ranch furnished the whole crowd with a delicious steak dinner before the sale They offer a Veterans’ discount of $ 250 on a bull purchase North Dakota – EGL Firebrand 700J x TJ Franchise 4511 (Black SimAngus) South Dakota – EGL Commander C1603 x PA Fortitude 2500 (Black Angus) South Dakota – LRS Crossfit 4306J x NLC Cow Boss 160C (Black SimAngus) South Dakota – CLRS Homeland 327H x Bridle Bit Eclipse E744 (Black SimAngus) South Dakota – CLRS Herdbook 316H x GAR Sure Fire (Black SimAngus) Minnesota – LRS Crossfit 4306J x A A R Ten X 7808 S A (Black SimAngus) Oklahoma – EGL Granite City 220G x TJ Franchise 451D (Black SimAngus) Sign up for daily and breaking news headlines Manage Subscriptions Office of Field Operations officers at Eagle Pass Port of Entry this weekend seized more than $438,000 in mixed narcotics (cocaine and fentanyl) in a single enforcement action “This mixed narcotics load of cocaine and fentanyl perfectly illustrates the severity of the drug threat our officers face on a daily basis,” said Port Director Pete Beattie our frontline CBP officers were able to prevent this poison from leaching into our communities.” 26 at the Camino Real International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2015 Toyota Highlander driven by a 78-year-old male Mexican citizen for secondary inspection CBP officers conducted a secondary examination that included utilization of a non-intrusive inspection and CBP canines CBP officers discovered 11 packages containing a total of 24.60 pounds of alleged cocaine and two packages containing 4.72 pounds of alleged fentanyl hidden within the vehicle The narcotics had a combined estimated street value of $438,715 Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news Texas – An Austin man was arrested in Eagle Pass on criminal charges related to his alleged smuggling of firearms from the United States into Mexico and enter Mexico at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Jan He made a negative declaration regarding possession of weapons and was referred to a secondary inspection A criminal complaint alleges that Customs and Border Protection officers located 40 rifles and two rifle scopes stored in two large duffel bags Diego-Avellaneda allegedly claimed that he was being paid approximately $100 for each firearm he smuggled into Mexico and that 11 of the firearms belonged to him Diego-Avellaneda is charged with one count of smuggling goods out of the United States A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case Attorneys Joshua Garland and Katherine Gorski are prosecuting the case A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law USATXW.MediaInquiry@usdoj.gov Two San Antonio men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a gun theft and trafficking conspiracy An El Paso husband and wife were sentenced together in a federal court to a combined 25 years in prison for charges related to drug trafficking Cameron Darrick Peterson, 20, of New Braunfels, man was sentenced in federal court today to 78 months in prison for a charge related to his planned mass murder attacks that... Multilingual Resources-->Have a question about Government Services? FORECASTSHARE PHOTOS & VIDEO'We need transparency': Eagle Pass parents push back against phone confiscation policyby Destany Fuller EAGLE PASS, TX - Eagle Pass ISD parents are calling for accountability after reports of a recently proposed policy that would allow district staff to confiscate phones of students who record on-campus fights This comes after recent incidents of fighting and assault in the district over the past few days. "It feels like they're trying to put the videos away, or make them not come out," said Nayeli, an EPISD Parent. "So they don't have to deal with the upset parents." If the policy is approved, phones would be held for up to 10 days while the district conducts an investigation. In more serious cases, it could take as long as the end of the school year. "Confiscating the phones.. wouldn't just undermine the truth, it would deny the victims and their families.. the evidence they deserve," Nayeli said. On Friday, two students were seen punching another student in a online video that gained more than 400,000 views. "We're seeing that a lot of fights are being organized on the phone during the school day, and then they're being videoed by another student," said Maurine Molak, co-founder of the David's Legacy Foundation. "Then they're posted on social media, and they go viral." On top of her work with the anti-bullying organization, Molak is also working on legislation that would ban phones from schools altogether. "It's really important that those devices are locked up during the school day and out of reach," she said. "This is the typical kind of behavior that we're seeing that's impacting students." Nayeli's daughter was also assaulted by another student in EPISD over the past week. That incident was also caught on camera. While watching her daughter be attacked was painful, she doesn't believe she'd have the full story of what happened without the video. "We just need transparency and accountability," Nayeli said. "The goal should be to create a safe and just environment.. for our children. Confiscating the phones is definitely a misguided attempt to avoid accountability, rather than just addressing the root causes of the violence and ensuring your children's protection." We reached out to Eagle Pass ISD for more information on the proposal. Officials say they can't give comment until they finish consulting with their legal team. We're expecting a statement when that process is finished.