Smugglers continue damaging old border wall in Mexicali

MEXICALI, Baja California, Mexico (KYMA, KECY) - In the middle of the vehicle border crossings on the U.S. - Mexico border in Mexicali, smugglers continue damaging the border wall in hopes of smuggling illegal immigrants and drugs into the country.

This most recent incident marks the 11th time in 2020 that Mexicali police have arrested someone for damaging the old border wall, waiting to be replaced by President Donald Trump's new border wall.

The latest suspect, 24-year-old Fernando de Jesús, is from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.

The incident happened in an area close to another incident that happened last week. Both incidents involved the use of a power drill.

Police say the two cases are not related, and have not been able to tie either case to a criminal organization.

Meanwhile, Mexicali police say damaging the border wall is a federal crime.

The border wall, both old and new, has been a topic of discussion for years now.

News 11 spoke to a human smuggler this year, that described how they are damaging the wall to cross illegal immigrants into the U.S.

Also this year, winds toppled down a section of the old border wall.