El Paso demobilizes Migrant Welcome Center due to decrease in migrants sent to City
EL PASO, Texas -- The City of El Paso and the Office of Emergency Management is demobilizing the Migrant Welcome Center by the end of Thursday, Oct. 20, according to a city spokeswoman.
The spokeswoman cites the new Department of Homeland Security's policy to return unauthorized Venezuelan migrants back to Mexico. Laura Cruz Acosta says the policy led to a significant decrease in encounters.
Cruz Acosta says two charter buses departed Thursday for the remaining unsponsored migrants in local shelters and in hotel shelter operations.
According to Cruz Acosta, the city has chartered as many as 292 buses to New York and Chicago since August 23.
