County Judge says proactive approach needed post “Remain in Mexico” policy

EL PASO, Texas- El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego says the County and City of El Paso are prepared for migrants to begin entering the United States if the Remain in Mexico Policy is lifted.

But the judge also told ABC-7 that he would prefer if the administration were to set a date rather than have it happen suddenly.

Samaniego said El Paso had been better prepared because of the possible lifting of Title 42.

“We have to be ready for it, the numbers are going to up, the uptick is going to be pretty great. I think we will manage probably better than any border community,” he said.

He said the city could be expecting thousands of people. Samaniego said since this policy has been in place, Ciudad Juarez has been feeling the larger impacts.

“They don’t have the resources the United States has, so we are getting ready.”

Samaniego said one way they will have to prepare would be by securing a processing center and large shelter for the area.

Casa de Refugiado is set to close in July.

“Hopefully we are going to have to get back on this idea of the processing center as well as the shelter that is the size of the Refugiado. It would be run by the city and the county. We wouldn’t run it but we would monitor it for someone else to run it. “

He said when rumors about Title 42 being lifted were circling he met with multiple agencies including Border Patrol, and ICE. He said now they must do the same with this policy.

Judge Samaniego says it is time to prepare.

“I am going to recommend that we get together very quickly and not wait for President Biden to make a decision. If he waits too long it’s good for us, too long might not be too good for us but too quick could be detrimental.”