City considering additional measures to protect migrants on El Paso’s streets

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- After shutting down Father Rahm Avenue in front of Sacred Heart Church Saturday, El Paso City Council is now considering taking additional measures to ensure migrant safety. Over the weekend, 8 migrants were killed in Brownsville when a car plowed through a group gathered outside a shelter. El Paso leaders say they want to avoid a similar tragedy in the Sun City.

Migrants have been gathered outside of Sacred Heart Church for months, with new arrivals entering Segundo Barrio every day. With the expected lifting of Title 42 scheduled for May 11, many local, state, and federal leaders expect a large-scale migrant surge.

In a meeting today, City Council members reported that no migrants have been released into the streets in recent weeks. In the past, migrants who had entered the country legally and been processed by border officials were released onto El Paso streets due to a lack of space at government-run processing centers and shelters.

The city says that local NGOs have responded well and are currently managing the large numbers of incoming migrants. It says those NGOs are also preparing for the lifting of Title 42 by expanding capacity.

On May 1, El Paso went under an disaster declaration. That allowed officials to convert decommissioned schools into temporary shelters.