Key Takeaways:

• A clandestine tunnel linking Ciudad Juarez and El Paso was recently discovered and is set to be sealed by Mexican authorities.
• The tunnel, spanning about 1,000 feet and equipped with utilities, raises concerns about its construction and operation over the years.
• An investigation into the tunnel's origins is ongoing, with suspicions regarding possible complicity from local authorities.
• Human traffickers reportedly discussed the tunnel on social media platforms, indicating its usage for smuggling purposes.
• Heightened security measures were enacted at the border in conjunction with the upcoming U.S. presidential inauguration.

CIUDAD JUAREZ: Mexican authorities have announced plans to seal a clandestine tunnel recently uncovered on the US-Mexico border, which provides passage from Ciudad Juarez into the Texan city of El Paso. This tunnel, discovered on January 10, measures approximately 300 meters (1,000 feet) in length on the Mexican side and is equipped with lighting, ventilation, and reinforcements to prevent collapses, as detailed by General Jose Lemus, commander of Ciudad Juarez's military garrison. Hidden within a storm sewer system that operates between both cities, the tunnel's access points are approximately 1.8 meters high and 1.2 meters wide, facilitating the movement of people and contraband.

General Lemus emphasized that the tunnel took considerable time to construct—potentially one to two years—although he withheld specific details regarding its operators and how long it had been in use. The investigation is led by the Mexican Attorney General's Office, which aims to establish if any authorities were complicit in the tunnel's construction, as it was executed without their awareness. Furthermore, Lemus pointed out that discussions regarding the tunnel's location and operations have been spotted among human traffickers sharing information on social media platforms like CBS News.

The discovery of the tunnel comes ahead of heightened security measures across the US-Mexico border, particularly as authorities brace for the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged a significant increase in deportation efforts. Additionally, authorities in Chihuahua reported a fire at a temporary camp for undocumented migrants, resulting in the evacuation of 39 adults and 17 minors, following attempts by migrants to resist detainment and transfer to Mexico City for deportation.Source.