The effects of executive orders on the southern border

Ximena Cordero and Sebastian Perez-Navarro

Sebastian Perez-Navarro, Multimedia Editor • February 4, 2025

Policy changes aren’t just headlines—they impact real people, including students at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Two days after President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration the U.S. Department of Defense sent 1,500 active-duty military members to the southern border, 750 of which are in the El Paso area.

President Trump also removed previous restrictions which prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting raids on protected areas, causing a school district to communicate their stance on the matter.

The Prospector breaks down what these actions from Trump mean for El Paso, Texas.

Sebastian Perez-Navarro is the multimedia editor for the Prospector and can be reached at [email protected] or Instagram and X @sebastianpn8, and on LinkedIn @sebastianperez-navarro.

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About the Contributors

Sebastian Perez-Navarro, Multimedia Editor

Sebastian Perez-Navarro is a sophomore majoring in communication studies. He hosts The Prospector Digest, UTEP's student led podcast. He is a freelance Play-by-Play broadcaster for 600 ESPN El Paso in Football, Basketball, and more. Sebastian is a proud member of the University's Speech and Debate Team. There, he competes in extemporaneous, impromptu, and argumentative settings. Currently, Sebastian is the UTEP beat writer for the Texas Sports Network.

Ximena Cordero, Audience & Engagement Editor

Ximena Cordero is a sophomore at the University of Texas at El Paso studying multimedia journalism with a minor in political science. She is the audience and engagement editor at The Prospector. After graduation she hopes to work as a broadcast journalist in Formula One or pursue political reporting.