These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
Source: Department of Justice, Department of
DefenseWar
Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Roan Smith
Photos: Courtesy Department ofDefenseWar
Physical Training Session Leads to Illegal Alien Apprehension
MOUNT CRISTO REY, N.M. — Situational awareness doesn’t stop when physical training begins. Soldiers with 2nd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB), assisted U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) in the apprehension of a suspected undocumented individual who attempted to blend into their workout formation at approximately 6:30 a.m., April 15, 2026.
The incident occurred while the soldiers were conducting a two-mile physical training (PT) circuit up Mount Cristo Rey. The location, which sits near the border, is a historical transit route for illegal aliens (IAs) attempting to enter the U.S., making it a highly relevant training ground.
“Running the mountain is a great opportunity for our brigade staff to get out of the headquarters building, and from the vantage of the mountain see the border, Juarez, and the barrier construction to better understand what the mission looks like at the tactical level,” said U.S. Army Maj. Jared Hampson, executive officer for 2nd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, assigned to JTF-SB. “This helps our staff better visualize what we are asking our companies to do.”
That visualization quickly turned into a real-world operation.
“As soon as I reached the top of the hill where a large cross is, I saw a man who had a rolled-up blanket and a trench coat awkwardly walk around the cross and watch our group,” Hampson said.
As the service members began their descent, the individual actively joined the military formation, running alongside the troops and even asking for a ride, in an apparent attempt to blend in and avoid detection. Recognizing the suspicious behavior, the soldiers maintained their composure and initiated their communication protocols without breaking stride.
“Seeing the [suspected] illegal alien trying to blend in with our group jogging down the mountain, our quick-thinking operations officer, Maj. John Mahood, texted our battle captain to contact Border Patrol,” Hampson explained. “The information was relayed to our Border Patrol counterparts who quickly took action.”
USBP agents responded swiftly, meeting the military personnel at the entrance to the trail.
“As the IA ran with our staff down the mountain, I believe that he thought that he had found the perfect opportunity to blend in with our team,” said Hampson. “He was smiling, not realizing that Border Patrol was waiting for him at the bottom of the two-mile-long trail.”
Following a brief investigation at the base of the mountain, USBP agents took custody of the individual. For many on the brigade staff, the morning PT session provided a unique sense of satisfaction as they watched their detection directly result in an apprehension.
According to Hampson, the quick reaction of the staff highlights their continuous vigilance and the seamless level of integration with their law enforcement partners.
“Our relationship with our USBP partners is seamless from the station and company level all the way through the brigade,” Hampson said. “There is nearly not a single action that this unit does without the involvement of our USBP partners.”
For the Fort Bliss-based unit, the border mission carries a deep personal weight that drives their daily readiness.
“For our Soldiers, this mission is about protecting our home and the communities we live in in El Paso,” Hampson added. “Tough PT conducted every morning prepares our team to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges of the mission they are assigned to.”
JTF-SB, assigned to U.S. Northern Command , is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.
(Bi)Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the two-week period ending April 24, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 124 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 22 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 125 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 134 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for sexual assault of a minor, narcotics trafficking, robbery, DUI, illegal weapons possession, alien smuggling, child molestation, narcotics trafficking, drug possession, unauthorized use of a vehicle and prior immigration offenses.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
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