El Paso closing Father Rahm Avenue as migrants gather in Segundo Barrio
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso is closing Father Rahm Avenue in Segundo Barrio and is temporarily halting streetcar service.
Effective immediately, the Office of Emergency Management is closing down Father Rahm Avenue between South Oregon and South Mesa, which is adjacent to Sacred Heart Church. The city says a lot of migrants are gathered in the area to seek help from the church.
The city says the closure is a necessary public safety precaution as the number of migrants overwhelms the area. Public health officials are concerned about the spread of disease in the area, as cases of COVID-19 and Chicken Pox have been detected by health care providers looking after migrants inside Sacred Heart Church.
"The closure will also allow City staff the opportunity to clean and maintain the area," a spokesperson said in a statement released Saturday evening.
The city is trying to manage the group of migrants gathered in the Segundo Barrio, but it is unable to clear the group.
"The City of El Paso cannot enforce federal immigration laws but is working closely with state and federal partners to provide additional support to the community and local NGOs," the spokesperson added.
"Effective tomorrow, Streetcar service along both the Lower and Upper Loops will be suspended until further notice to accommodate the City’s response to the humanitarian migrant crisis issue impacting downtown City services," the statement said.
