Residents along Border Highway ask for lighting to be installed to curb migrant encounters
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)- Residents in one El Paso neighborhood say new safety measures are needed to curb migrant encounters as the end of Title 42 nears.
Although migrant encounters have slowed, a new measure is being considered for neighborhoods parallel to the border highway.
City Council discussed Monday the possibility of FEMA funding lights for the neighborhood as an indirect response to the migrant crisis.
Neighborhoods along the Border highway say adding lights to their neighborhood will help them feel safer.
"They pass by and sometimes they hide. I would prefer it to be lit up. Honestly, it makes me scared," said a resident of Ben Swain Dr, near the Border highway.
"I think lights will be a lot, a lot better to be honest with you, said Iutisone Tiliaia, a resident of Ben Swain Dr.
"Well, yes, it would help," said Antonio Garcia, a resident of Ben Swain Dr.
Monday, during the City Council session, Representative Cassandra Hernandez said residents have reached out to her requesting additional roving and some lighting due to migrant encounters.
"Those are the two only requests, and I think they’re reasonable," said Cassandra Hernandez, during the council meeting.
The areas in question are along the Border highway at the intersections of Fonseca Yarbrough and Midway. A main neighborhood affected is Ben Swain dr.
Residents of Ben Swain Dr believe adding lights will help curb migrant encounters.
"Well, I'm hoping that they do, you know, but if they get in they want to get in, they'll get in anyways," said Garcia.
"Light is a lot of help. See, I keep my light. I put my light over here myself. It cost me money. But I'm protecting my family," said Tiliaia.
Another resident of the neighborhood says her son added lights and cameras around her property because of the migrant encounters. She even changed her work schedule because of it. She says she would feel safer with additional lights.
“That's why I asked for the day shift because at night I would always arrive at eleven or ten," said a resident of Ben Swain Dr. "Of course with the lights turned up I would be comfortable to go out and walk a while. I used to walk before from the corner over there now I'm scared”.
