U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez and teachers union leaders on Monday decried a border patrol agent who climbed onto a bus and demanded documents from Las Cruces students on their way to a swim meet. “We’re here to address an incident that should have never happened,” said Vasquez, a Democrat whose district includes border communities in the southern portion of the state. “It’s an incident that has rightfully raised serious concerns across New Mexico and beyond.” Vasquez was referring to an incident early Friday morning at the checkpoint outside of Las Cruces on Interstate 25, during which U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers boarded an unmarked charter bus carrying 10 students traveling to Albuquerque for a swim meet, News From The States reports. Las Cruces High Swim coach Pamela Quiñones, who reportedly was on the bus, told independent journalist Heath Haussaman that an agent asked the driver in English shortly after 7 a.m. how many people were on the bus. The driver could not speak English. “Without hesitation he jumped on the bus and didn’t ask the adults any more questions, said Quiñones. "He just started walking in the bus and started yelling in Spanish, demanding documentation from all the passengers.” Students from Las Cruces High School, Centennial High School and Mayfield High School were on the bus.
When asked about Quiñones’ version of the incident, Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Landon Hutchens told Source NM, “there seemed to be some resistance or something like that” in response to the agent “conducting a routine inspection.” But Vasquez's understanding of the situation differed. “Rather than de-escalating the situation, the agent boarded the bus, ignored attempts by coaches to explain the situation and demanded information from the students, leaving them rattled and shaken,” he said. “Let me be clear, harassing and frightening children does not make New Mexico safer.” Vasquez sent a letter Monday to Secretary Kristi Noem, who heads the Department of Homeland Security, asking for an accounting of the incident and a written policy for how agents interact with minors. The letter noted that this was not the first problematic incident in New Mexico involving immigration officials, and referenced reported questioning of Native American tribal members by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.