New details emerge about multiple El Paso hotels being used to house migrants

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- ABC-7 is learning new details about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts to provide emergency temporary shelter for migrant families in Texas and Arizona.

ABC-7 has learned a second hotel in El Paso is also housing migrant families. A representative from the El Paso County Judge's office confirmed migrants are staying at two hotels in El Paso on the east side.

County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said the two hotels, who have now gone independent and no longer have their national chain affiliations, have a combined total of 300 rooms. He said he believed the facilities were housing 18 single adults and 30 families as of Tuesday. However, a representative from ICE told ABC-7 these facilities were only sheltering migrant families. The judge added that overflow is directed to Annunciation House.

Samaniego also added that the majority of people housed inside the facilities are still ultimately expelled out of the country.

ICE entered into a $86.9 million contract with the San Antonio-based company Endeavor to help provide shelter. The contract will provide support through Sept. 30, according to ICE.

"Custody is intended to be short term, generally less than 72 hours, to allow for immigration enforcement processing and establishing appropriate terms and conditions of release while their immigration proceedings continue," ICE said in a statement.

Samaniego said patients with Covid are also housed in the facility, but are segregated from those who are healthy.