CBP agents discover third cross-border tunnel in one year

An El Centro Sector Border Patrol agent working at the Calexico Border Patrol Station on Friday discovered an underground cross-border tunnel during routine patrol in the area.

During routine patrol, the agent noticed a slight depression in the soil along the banks of the All-American Canal. As the agent investigated further, the soil began to give way, exposing an 18-inch hole that led to the tunnel. Once the hole was exposed, the agent discovered electrical wiring and lumber, indicating the presence of a cross-border tunnel.

This is the third tunnel to be discovered in one year, including one as recently as three weeks ago.

“This is exactly what our Border Patrol agents are on patrol for,” El Centro Sector Chief Rodney Scott said. “They are on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary along our vast Southwest border. This agent saw something that didn’t look quite right and it turned out to be a tunnel.”

The tunnel is approximately three feet wide and measures approximately 142 feet in length. It begins approximately 60 feet south of the international border in Mexico, while the remainder extends into the United States.

Cross-border tunnels pose significant safety risks as they provide cover for unknown migrants and illegal drug trafficking.