U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in El Paso is issuing a stern warning about the dangers and legal repercussions of attempting to illegally enter the United States by way of trains. This comes after a recent apprehension of a man trying to surreptitiously cross the border aboard a Union Pacific Railway train. According to CBP, on June 6 at 6 p.m., officers conducting a nonintrusive inspection identified anomalies on a northbound train which led to the discovery of an undocumented individual from Mexico hidden within a hollow space at the end of an empty hopper car.
This individual, who CBP took into custody, was found to previously have been deported and, as such, was charged with illegal re-entry, a violation of 8 USC 1326. "Attempting to enter the United States without inspection via a cargo train is not only illegal, but it is also very dangerous," Samuel Cleaves, CBP El Paso Field Office Assistant Director for Border Security, was quoted saying in the statement on the CBP website. They cautioned that attempting to board a moving train can lead to serious injury or even death due to the risk of slipping or heatstroke, especially as temperatures soar.
The incident highlights a broader trend of risks associated with train stowaways. In the fiscal year 2024, CBP apprehensions for individuals attempting to enter the U.S. without proper inspection on trains numbered 143. The fiscal year 2025, while yet far from over, has already seen 43 such apprehensions.
