NYC mayor crossed border illegally, says Border Protection

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. (DREW ANGERER/Getty Images/AFP)

WASHINGTON — The US Customs and Border Protection is alleging that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio illegally crossed from Mexico into the United States while visiting the El Paso, Texas area in June, an accusation the city executive’s office flatly denied.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Customs and Border Protection said De Blasio and his security detail were on the Rio Grande River flood plain, south of the Tornillo Port of Entry, during a June 21 trip to the border. The letter said a Border Patrol agent asked why they were there and told them to stay put, but the mayor’s entourage instead drove back to Mexico.

De Blasio’s spokesman said the security detail had the direct approval and was under the supervision of the Border Patrol supervisor.  /kga