City Council approves re-enactment of Emergency Ordinance amid migrant surge

EL PASO, Texas– In a unanimous vote, El Paso City Council passed a motion to extend the emergency ordinance authorizing local leaders to assign personnel and resources to address the migrant influx.

The emergency ordinance was first issued in May after reconsideration by District 6 representative Claudia Rodriguez, who initially voted "no" because she wanted to see an emergency declaration go into effect instead.

In the second vote, Rep. Rodriguez voted "yes" after the Mayor promised her that if the situation worsened, he would declare an emergency declaration.

In Tuesday's discussion, Rodriguez said the emergency declaration is long overdue, and the Mayor's promise has yet to happen.

El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino said at this point, we are managing the situation.

“A declaration gives us the opportunity to ask the state for resources; there is no guarantee,” said D'Agostino.

With an average of 500 migrants being released to the city’s Welcome Center a day by CBP and more coming from NGOs, D'Agostino said they are seeing no relief right now.

El Paso City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said the city is still waiting for a $2 million dollar reimbursement from FEMA, which El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said will be received Wednesday.