U.S. Border Patrol agents boarded a charter bus at a checkpoint on Interstate 25 carrying Las Cruces High School students going to a swim meet in Albuquerque, a statement from the Border Patrol said Sunday.

The USBP statement called the action on Friday a "routine immigration inspection" of what they called a "standard charter vehicle" because the bus had no markings or decals identifying it as a bus carrying students.

"The agents' primary objective was to verify the legal status of the passengers," the statement said. "After completing the verification process, all individuals were confirmed to be legally present in the country and the agents disembarked without incident."

However, the incident was described as "harassment" by Rep. Gabe Vasquez. He said the situation escalated when agents questioned the driver, who did not speak English, after which an agent boarded the bus and questioned the students, who Vasquez said were "rattled and shaken."

"Harassing and frightening children does not make New Mexico safer," Vasquez said. "No student should have to fear law enforcement while traveling to a school event."