Lines of students from Juarez form at ports of entries on first day of school

EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — On the first day of in-person learning in over a year, it seemed like everyone was trying to get back into the routine of things, but it didn’t go as smoothly for some students traveling into El Paso from Juarez.

“I didn't think the line was going to be that long. It was crazy,” said Kevin Alvarez Villalobos, a senior at Del Valle High School.

Villalobos woke up at 4:00 a.m. on Monday to make it to class on time but when he arrived at the Ysleta Port of Entry he saw the line at the bridge stretching back for what seemed like miles.

“When I was coming, the line was so long. So many kids were trying to get to class,” said Tanya Avila, a high school senior.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the international ports of entry said they did note higher than normal traffic Monday morning in both the pedestrian and vehicle lanes.

“Monday morning is typically a busy period, however, with today’s beginning of face-to-face instruction at multiple area school districts, volumes were higher. As a result, peak crossing times were in the 55 to 95-minute range,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations, Hector Mancha.

While that may seem like a long time, students say it was worth the wait.

“I never thought that I would say that but I did miss school so much,” Avila said.

“Yes, it’s worth it. I get to see all of my friends again,” Villalobos said.

CBP says it will monitor traffic flows and adjust staffing accordingly during peak periods.

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