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Only a few days removed from the original scheduled date, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officials announced Thursday evening their ‘crowd control exercise’ would go on Friday morning in Chihuahuita, without press or the public present.
According to the email, officials said Friday’s exercise would again include Border Patrol ‘assets and participants,’ however the main difference would be that the exercise would be ‘closed to the public and media representatives,’ citing safety purposes.
The training, originally scheduled for Election Day, November 6th, was abruptly cancelled with out warning that same morning.
Armored vehicles, Border Patrol trucks with horse trailers in tow, as well as the familiar white and green clad trucks had all gathered within a few steps of one of the city’s oldest neighborhood, only to quickly be removed.
On Tuesday, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Officials filed an official complaint with the Department of Justice, alleging the
original date was a form of voter intimidation.
The area where the demonstration was slated to be held is in the heart of the Chihuahuita neighborhood in South El Paso. The
neighborhood is a historically poor, Hispanic community that winds along the Rio Grande River.
On Tuesday, when directly asked by the Herald Post why the exercise was canceled at the last minute, public affairs officers said they were not given a reason.
To read the Tuesday’s story, click here. A copy of the email is included below.
