Officials Uncover Elaborate Smuggling Tunnel Under U.S.-Mexico Border

Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents discovered a sophisticated smuggling tunnel connecting Mexico to El Paso, Texas. The tunnel, equipped with electricity and ventilation, was found during a routine inspection of a storm drain. Authorities believe it was built by criminal organizations for smuggling people, drugs, and other contraband.

The six-foot-tall, four-foot-wide structure, reportedly constructed within the past year, has been deemed “historic” by officials. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, along with Mexican authorities, are collaborating to locate and arrest those responsible for its construction.

The tunnel’s discovery underscores growing challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border. Policy experts suggest that shifting Homeland Security resources under the Biden administration may have contributed to the proliferation of such tunnels. Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, argued that the administration’s focus on processing illegal migrants left critical border security gaps.

Similar tunnels have been uncovered in recent years. In 2022, Homeland Security Investigations found a 1,744-foot tunnel between California and Mexico. In Arizona, three tunnels were reported near the border in 2024 alone. These findings highlight the adaptability of drug cartels and smugglers.

Ammon Blair, a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and former Border Patrol agent, criticized the Biden administration’s policies, citing reduced surveillance and an emphasis on processing migrants. Blair noted that these factors have allowed cartels to exploit weaknesses along the border.

Experts express hope that the incoming administration will prioritize securing the border and addressing illegal tunnel construction. Investigations into this latest discovery are ongoing.

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