Out-of-town recruits for Tornillo migrant facility could boost local hotels, businessman says

Motels and hotels in the El Paso area could stand to benefit if a federal contractor brings in hundreds, or even thousands, of workers from out of town to work at the temporary immigrant shelter near the Tornillo Port of Entry.

Thursday, ABC-7 reported Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) is looking to hire at least 5,000 new contract workers to help take care of the teenagers at the facility. It currently houses up to 400 children, but a spokesman with CHS told ABC-7 the facility could be expanded to house up to 4,000 children.

Friday, the department of Health and Human Services reported it extended operations at the facility an additional month.

The President of the El Paso Hotel Lodging Association, Gabriel Ayub, told ABC-7 that if CHS recruits out of town for most of the four-to-five thousand workers it plans to hire, then local hotels and motels could see an increase in business.

Democratic Texas State Representatives Cesar Blanco and Mary Gonzales disagree, saying this is not the type of economic boost the city and county need.

“There is no positive impact. Those are bad jobs. Binging people in here to work at a facility that separates children – we want to make sure these children are sent back to their families,” Blanco said.

“I mean, it could have an economic impact, but I would argue that I would rather spend those federal dollars on actual things that help the infrastructure, things like roads and clean water,” Gonzalez said.

The state representatives toured the facility Friday as part of a bi-partisan state congressional caucus.