El Paso City leaders detail how $6 million funding will be used for migrant crisis
UPDATE: Mayor Oscar Leeser and Deputy City Chief Mario D'Agustino say about 2,500 migrant apprehensions are happening daily. This amounts to 75,000 per month. With Title 42 coming to an end, the city discussed the use of funds to prepare for the potential of 150,000 migrants crossings in a single month.
Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino said there is a request for the funds to go to increased processing capacity. He mentioned many migrants are passing through the city, and improved processing would speed that process up.
He also mentioned funding supplemental transportation, which could bring more buses to the city to help get migrants out of the city faster.
He also says the funds could pay for emergency sheltering, hotels, staffing, food, and law enforcement support.
He and Mayor Leeser claim all this can be done without a disaster declaration.
"No one understands exactly what's gonna happen, but we're days away with that, we're also not declaring a state of emergency, but we are requesting state resources," said D'Agustino.
At the news conference, Mayor Leeser insisted a Disaster Declaration was not necessary. That refusal was met with some opposition from city council members in attendance.
"I have called repeatedly on the Mayor to declare a Disaster Declaration and it's completely up to him to do so. Doing so would bring additional resources. I want to clarify that the $3.7 million dollars that has been promised, we have not yet received it. The $6 million dollars is promised but we have not received it. We're days away from Title 42 being lifted and I'm not sure whats going to happen if we don't receive those fundings," said Claudia Rodriguez District 8 Representative.
Mayor Leeser responded. Still adamant about his refusal to issue a disaster declaration.
"If you declare a State of Emergency you're still not guaranteed any resources. You're not guaranteed anything. It's still a request of a state of emergency," said Leeser, "A promise means we're gonna get our money and it's very disingenuine to say, "It's a promise but we may not get it". We will get our funding from the Federal Government."
EL PASO, Texas- El Paso Mayor and city leaders will address the migrant crisis and provide an update Thursday.
This comes as large numbers of migrants began crossing into the U.S. Sunday to be processed by Customs and Border Protection.
The growing number of migrants crossing putting a strain on resources for CBP and Non-governmental organizations.
The conference begins at 11 a.m., be sure to stay with KVIA.com on-air and online for the latest updates.
