With President Donald Trump’s new mass deportation plans in effort to remove undocumented individuals in the United States, Trump has allowed for immigration enforcement officers to arrest migrants at safe locations such as schools and churches. With UTEP being home to a large majority of students who cross the border every day to attend classes, concerns grow over how this will affect some students.

On Jan. 25, Lowbrow Palace held its Rodeo Night Market with local vendors selling vintage clothing, jewelry and other items, joined with food and music. The event took place from 6-11 p.m. and the final round of Battle of the Bands was at 7 p.m.

On Oct.7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, launched an attack to Israel from Gaza which killed nearly 1,200 people and held approximately 250 people captive. Israel responded with deploying troops to Gaza, killing more than 46,700 people with majority of them being women and children, according to BBC. In January of this year, Israel and Palestine agreed to a deal presented by Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, in which both countries would free both Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages, ending the 15 month conflict.

Wildfires ravaged Los Angeles on Jan. 7, displacing more than 92,000 residents and claiming 27 lives, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. With winds reaching up to 100 mph in some areas, firefighters continue to battle the blazes.

On Dec. 10, UTEP announced the launch of their newest degree plan specializing in artificial intelligence. This new degree in AI will be offered under the College of Engineering beginning in spring of 2025 with options for both a master's and bachelor's concentration.