Last Thursday, deputies from the El Paso County Constable’s Office Precinct Three conducted an operation to remove five individuals unlawfully residing in a South-Central El Paso house, located on the 500 block of Barcelona Drive. This enforcement action was a first for El Paso County since recent legislative changes aimed to more effectively address unauthorized occupancy. Local news source KVIA reported that the individuals were living in the house without the consent of the legal owner.
One of the removed squatters, identified as 49-year-old Edgar Sealy, had an outstanding warrant for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. According to KVIA, Sealy was taken into custody and subsequently booked into jail. These actions by law enforcement were facilitated by Senate Bill 1333 and Senate Bill 38. The former allows law enforcement to act quickly on verified complaints of unauthorized occupancy, while the latter streamlines the civil eviction process, both without requiring a judge’s signature for enforcement.
KTSM, another regional news outlet, similarly reported on the incident, explaining that the removal followed changes in Texas statutory law, which was designed to clarify and expedite the process of removing unauthorized occupants. The new legislation, which took effect on September 1st, 2025, is intended to offer a more straightforward path for property owners to reclaim their rights over their own premises. KTSM includes a statement from the Constable’s Office which emphasizes that “a judge’s signature is NOT required for this type of enforcement/removal.”…