Federal immigration officials on Tuesday released details about a New Year’s Eve enforcement operation in east El Paso that drew attention after video of the arrests circulated on social media.
According to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officers and agents, working alongside U.S. Border Patrol, arrested four illegal aliens from Mexico on Dec. 31 near Kingsbury Avenue and Aircoupe Way.
ICE identified one of the individuals as Jose Olvera-Atanacio, whom the agency described as a criminal illegal alien with multiple arrests for driving under the influence and a DUI conviction dating back to 2002. ICE said Olvera-Atanacio was deported in 2010 but later reentered the United States numerous times in 2011 and 2012. He remains in ICE custody pending proceedings.
Federal officials stated that the arrests were part of a broader, intelligence-based enforcement effort conducted throughout December. ICE said that earlier operations targeting criminal illegal aliens led to additional arrests and uncovered what officials described as a wider pattern of illegal employment within the local construction and trade sectors. That information, ICE said, informed subsequent enforcement actions.
According to the agency, officers conducted what it described as calculated, intelligence-driven, and consensual law enforcement encounters. During those encounters, officers identified individuals in violation of federal immigration law and took enforcement action consistent with their authority.
The operation took place at a construction site and included both ground units and aerial support. Video shared by residents showed federal agents arriving in unmarked vehicles and a helicopter overhead as some individuals fled the area.
Several residents interviewed by local media expressed mixed reactions. Christian Garcia, who recorded video of the arrests, said he noticed unmarked vehicles near his home before officers moved in on workers at the site. He described seeing agents detain individuals as others attempted to leave.
In its statement, ICE said illegal aliens who wish to avoid enforcement encounters may voluntarily depart the United States through the CBP Home App. The agency said eligible individuals may receive a $1,000 stipend and government-paid airfare if they choose to leave voluntarily, preserving the ability to seek lawful entry in the future. ICE said those who decline voluntary departure and remain in the country illegally are subject to arrest and removal.
