CBP: Migrants held underneath Paso Del Norte Bridge relocated
The migrants who were being held underneath the Paso Del Norte Bridge in downtown El Paso have been moved to the Customs and Border Protection El Paso station in Northeast El Paso, a CBP spokesperson said.
” The number of apprehensions has continued to increase steadily and the decision was made to relocate to a location with more space and more shelter capability, ” a CBP spokesperson said.
” Although aliens that were being held in the transitional area are being moved, the building adjacent to Paso Del Norte will continue to serve as a processing facility. The transition should be completed today, Sunday, March 31, 2019. ”
The spokesperson did not confirmed how many migrants were being held at the station.
As ABC-7 reported, The U. S Border Patrol confirmed Tuesday that the asylum seekers were being held in a ” transitional ” camp underneath the bridge.
The camp was meant to ” keep the migrants out of the elements ” while they are transported to another facility to be processed. The migrants are not being processed at the camp, ” a Border Patrol spokesman said.
Inside the tent, migrants are given water, food and a medical evaluation.
When our ABC-7 crews arrived to the camp Sunday, our crews were not allowed get near the tent, but it was clear that none of the migrants were still being held there.
No word if weather was a factor into the relocation of the migrants.
CBP Commisioner Kevin McAleenan visited El Paso Wednesday stating that, ” CBP is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and border security crisis all along our Southwest border. And nowhere has that crisis manifested more acutely than here in El Paso. ”
In a statement Saturday, CBP said the only way to address the crisis is through Congressional action.
” The care of those in our custody is paramount. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the United States Border Patrol (USBP) are devoted to the care and processing of the individuals in our custody with the utmost dignity and respect.
” USBP has been transparent for several months by conveying the message both publicly, internationally and to Congress that the immigration system is broken and that they are at critical capacity levels across the southwest border. ”
