New Mexico school near southern border goes into lockdown twice in one week after illegal immigrants hide on campus

Santa Teresa Middle School, which lies around 5 miles away from the US-Mexico border in New Mexico, has been the site of illegal immigrants hiding on school grounds twice in one week.

According to KFOX 14, Gadsden Independent School District Superintendent Travis Dempsey said the first incident occurred on March 20, with the second taking place on March 27.

In the March 20 incident, Santa Teresa Middle School Principal Danielle Rodriguez used the school’s safety app "rave panic button" to report suspicious activity, according to Newsweek. 

Officials said a group of illegal immigrants entered the southern section of the school’s campus, with a "secure" status being implemented with the orders to "get inside and lock outside doors."

The situation was eventually deemed safe, and police allocated two officers to remain on campus.

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

Dempsey told KFOX 14 that in the second incident, the campus was placed into secure mode for around 20 minutes, and six illegal immigrants were apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

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

Refugio Corrales, a Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson, said the illegal immigrants encountered in Santa Teresa and nearby Sunland Park are often attempting to avoid arrest by agents.

"The Santa Teresa Middle School is one of the areas where these migrants jump into without thinking of where they’re going through because they’re trying to evade arrest," Corrales said.

The US El Paso Border Patrol sector said in a statement, "It is common for Border Patrol Agents to receive calls from the community in the Sunland Park, NM area, especially those impacted by migrants who often conceal themselves inside of properties. This is due to the proximity of the border and as such, many migrants attempt to evade arrest from the US Border Patrol. Agents are always mindful of the safety and wellbeing of not only migrants but the public at large, especially in and around schools in this area."

The school sits around 5 miles from the "Anarpa Gap," and is northwest of El Paso, Texas.

"A lot of people in that area that try to evade arrest from our apprehensions do have a criminal history or have immigration issues. So that's the reason why they just take off running and go through locations they're not even familiar with," Corrales told KOAT.