Call Center Company in El Paso, TX

Editor's note: This story now includes information that both El Paso zip codes mentioned are home to a transitional center and a jail annex.

An El Paso zip code has the most sex offenders per capita in the country, according to a recent study by a law firm out of New Jersey.

The study, conducted by Gelman Law, revealed the El Paso zip code '79928' had 358 public sex offender registries, and with a reported population of 78,971, that translates to 45.33 registrations per capita.

El Paso is #1 on the list, followed by Los Angeles, California and Waukegan, Illinois.

Another El Paso zip code made the list, '79938.' The zip code came in at #39 in the country with 19.20 public sex offender registrations per capita and a total of 185 sex offender registries.

The numbers are as of January 13, 2025, the study noted.

It's important to note that both zip codes in the El Paso area are home to both a transitional center and jail annex.

The El Paso Transitional Center is located on 1700 Horizon Blvd., a halfway house that currently has over 170 male halfway house residents.

El Paso Times reached out to the El Paso Transitional Center to find out how many residents are registered sex offenders, but has not heard back.

The El Paso County Jail Annex is located in far East El Paso, under the '79938' zip code. The capacity at the annex is 1,896, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

Sex offender registry

Sex offenders are tracked by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which maintains a statewide sex offender registration database.

State law specifically makes most information in this database freely available to the public, according to TXDPS.

While the public can search the registry by address or zip code, if a high-risk sex offender moves into an area, TXDPS will notify the community by mailing a postcard to each residence and business in the community containing information about the offender.

Search the TXDPS sex offender registry here.

Natassia Paloma may be reached at [email protected], @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.

It’s graduation season throughout El Paso County, and thousands of students — from high school seniors to college graduates — are preparing to celebrate their achievements with family, friends and classmates. Ceremonies are scheduled throughout May and June at venues across the region, with many taking place at the University of Texas at El Paso’s Don Haskins Center, 151 Glory Road.

Graduates and guests planning to attend ceremonies at the Don Haskins Center should be aware of venue policies to ensure a smooth experience. The arena enforces a clear bag policy, requiring all bags to be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and not exceed dimensions of 12 inches long, 6 inches wide and 12 inches tall. No outside food or beverages are allowed, and professional cameras, tripods and drones are prohibited. Additional restricted items include noisemakers, helium balloons, large signs or banners, glass containers, vapor products, selfie sticks, laser pointers and strollers.

The venue also has a strict no re-entry policy for all events. Once you leave the facility, you will not be allowed back in, even if you still have a valid ticket. All patrons are subject to search and/or wanding by security personnel upon entry, and smoking is prohibited anywhere on UTEP property.

Parking is available in various lots near the arena.

Below is a day-by-day schedule of graduation ceremonies happening across El Paso County. Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held at the Don Haskins Center.

EPCC GRADUATION

Friday, May 16

UTEP GRADUATION

Saturday, May 17

Sunday, May 18

TEXAS TECH HEALTH EL PASO

Ceremonies for Texas Tech Health El Paso will be in the Plaza Theatre, 125 W. Mills Ave.

Monday, May 19

Tuesday, May 20

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS

Monday, May 19

Friday, May 30

Saturday, May 31

Sunday, June 1

Tuesday, June 3

Wednesday, June 4

Friday, June 6

Saturday, June 7

Monday, June 9

Tuesday, June 10

Wednesday, June 11

Texas Border Business

EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso seized 113 grams of fentanyl May 7. The drugs were hidden in the vagina of a 40-year-old female U.S. citizen pedestrian border crosser.

“This is an exceptionally dangerous practice and could be lethal if the packaging were to fail during transport,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. “It is best to not engage in smuggling activity, but especially this form. It is risky on many levels.”

The events leading to the PDN seizure began just before a.m. when CBP officers selected the woman for a secondary exam. During the inspection, the woman told CBP officers she had a foreign object concealed in her body.

The woman was transported to a medical facility for an exam which confirmed the presence of an object internally concealed. Medical staff successfully removed the drug-filled package. No additional anomalies were spotted during a subsequent exam.

The woman was returned to the port of entry where she was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face federal charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.

Texas Border Business

EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists assigned to the Paso Del Norte international crossing seized 25 large rolls of prohibited pork bologna, two packages of pork ham, and 16 rolls of pork chorizo on May 8.

The discovery was made just before 8 p.m. when a 61-year-old male driving a 2024 Mazda CX-50 presented himself for inspection via the vehicle lanes at the port. After obtaining a negative declaration for fruits, vegetables, and meat products, a CBP officer at the primary booth spotted multiple rolls of meat under the floor mats.

The driver was referred for a secondary agriculture inspection. During the secondary exam, CBP Agriculture Specialists located 275 pounds of bologna, 17.6 pounds of pork ham, and seven pounds of pork chorizo hidden in various locations in the vehicle. The prohibited pork products were seized and destroyed by CBP per U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations.

The seizure marks the second time the individual was caught attempting to smuggle pork bologna from Mexico to the U.S. at the El Paso port of entry. The man was previously assessed a $1,000 penalty after CBP agriculture specialists discovered 30 rolls of bologna in the vehicle he was driving.

“It is important that members of the traveling public clearly understand that pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S. The impact to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry could be devastating,” said CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha. “Travelers should not try to cross pork products from Mexico to the U.S. If they are unsure, it is best for travelers to declare any items acquired abroad to help CBP stop the introduction of potentially harmful products.”

The smuggling case is being referred to USDA Investigative and Enforcement Services who enforce alleged violations related to animal and plant issues. CBP is also exploring civil penalties which may be applied.

The USDA and the Department of Homeland Security are partners in the effort to protect American agriculture against the introduction of pests and diseases at our nation’s ports of entry. Undeclared prohibited agriculture items will be confiscated and can result in a civil penalty for failure to declare.

El Paso, TX (May 8, 2025) – A devastating crash involving a semi-truck and multiple vehicles occurred early Thursday morning in El Paso, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The incident unfolded before 6:21 a.m. along North Desert Blvd near Spur 16 and Transmountain Rd, triggering a massive emergency response and widespread traffic closures.

Medics and fire crews worked to assist those suffering from injuries after the collision. According to officials, the semi-truck struck several vehicles, sparking a fire that complicated rescue operations. In total, eleven vehicles were involved in the pileup. Five individuals were transported to the hospital, while tragically, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.

Due to the severity of the crash, the Texas Department of Transportation closed all lanes in both directions on Spur 16 at Talbot, along North and South Desert Blvd at Transmountain Rd, and along Transmountain Rd to the intersection of Interstate 10. First responders and traffic investigators remained at the scene for several hours as they worked to determine the sequence of events and remove debris from the roadway.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic accident.

Dangers of Multi-Vehicle Truck Crashes in West Texas

Crashes involving commercial trucks and multiple passenger vehicles are among the most dangerous types of roadway incidents. In West Texas, where highways like North Desert Blvd serve as major freight corridors, the risk of such accidents increases significantly, particularly during high-traffic hours.

Semi-trucks carry substantial momentum, and when involved in a crash, the consequences are often catastrophic. In this case, the additional element of a vehicle fire further endangered those involved and complicated rescue efforts. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, over 39,000 commercial vehicle crashes occurred statewide in 2024, with many resulting in severe injuries or fatalities.

El Paso’s position along key transport routes like I-10 and Transmountain Rd makes it especially vulnerable to these types of incidents. Accidents involving large trucks frequently stem from driver fatigue, brake failure, or following too closely—any of which can lead to chain-reaction collisions like the one seen this morning.

Victims of truck-involved crashes often face long recovery periods, extensive medical bills, and complicated insurance disputes. It’s important for drivers to maintain extra caution when traveling near commercial vehicles—avoiding blind spots, allowing more space for sudden stops, and being mindful of merging areas.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a crash, reach out to Local Accident Reports for assistance.