El Paso declares state of emergency as US-Mexico border crossings surge: 'Not safe'
Category: News & Politics
Via: vic-eldred • 4 years ago • 121 commentsBy: Lawrence Richard (Fox News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Officials in the City of El Paso, Texas have declared a state of emergency as border crossings have overwhelmed law enforcement personnel.
Mayor Oscar Leeser announced the state of emergency during a press conference Saturday, saying he could no longer keep residents safe.
"I said from the beginning that I would call it when I felt that either our asylum seekers or community were not safe," Leeser said, according to KFOX14.
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Border Patrol agents detain a group of migrants near the border wall, after they entered the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, border with El Paso, Texas, US, on February 3, 2022. (HERIKA MARTINEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
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Migrants wait to get into a U.S. government bus after crossing the border from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez, File)
El Paso, a town located along the U.S.-Mexico border, continues to witness an influx of migrants into its community. It is also expecting a surge of migrants when Title 42, a Trump-era immigration policy that reduced the number of asylum seekers the U.S. would allow under the COVID pandemic, expires on Dec. 21.
"That's not the way we want to treat people and by calling a state of an emergency it gives us the ability today to be able to do what we couldn't do until we called it," Leeser added.
With the emergency declaration, Leeser is requesting additional resources and support from the state.
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The request includes asking for support in staffing for feeding and housing migrants, resources to transport the migrants into other cities, and additional law enforcement personnel to help ensure the safety of residents and the migrants.
"We know the influx on Wednesday [December 21] will be incredible it will be huge. On Wednesday our numbers will go from 2,500 to 4,000, 5,000, maybe 6,000," the mayor said.
In recent weeks, Leeser and El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said they did not see a need to declare a state of emergency.
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Central American migrants in a caravan to the US, in the state of Guanajuato on November 11, 2018. (ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
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A plaque marks the U.S. border on the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry bridge which connects the U.S. and Mexico on July 23, 2018 in El Paso, Texas. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Members of the US Border Patrol keep watch as Pope Francis holds a mass across the border in Mexico and also watched by US Catholics in El Paso, Texas on February 17, 2016. (MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)
The officials also did not want to concede control of city facilities to Gov. Greg Abbott, who later assured them that he would only take action after speaking with the mayor's office.
"He said 'Mayor I'm going to tell you something we will never do anything without talking to you first and we won't impose anything without talking to you first," Leeser said.
President Joe Biden has chosen not to continue the Title 42 rules and courts have allowed them to expire. Nineteen Republican states, including Texas, have sued to keep the rules in place.
The city council will have a change to ratify the declaration, which will remain in effect for seven days.
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The border is at the breaking point. It is one of the nation's great problems under Joe Biden. In a few days that problem will exacerbate. The msm has pretty much ignored this story. El Paso is Texas fifth largest city and local officials have declared a state of emergency. In the meantime, the White House "press secretary" has given another one of her idiotic non-answers, saying that the president has "done the work."
"The El Paso Sector of the southern border has seen a massive 255% increase in migrant encounters since October 1, just as images show streams of migrants hitting the border, ahead of the expiration of the Title 42 public health order in less that a week.
The El Paso Sector is averaging over 2,000 illegal crossings a day and has seen a 255% increase in encounters this fiscal year to date, compared with last fiscal year. There were more than 2.3 million migrant encounters in a historic FY 2022, and already FY 2023 is on track to outpace that number border-wide."
Where are we? We have the Minnesota Vikings to think about!
Why are you pointing fingers in the other direction. What happened to "day one, I will get build a wall with a big beautiful door' promised by "Jumping the shark" Trump? The article image seems to show the wall ending where the people are gathered!
The Speaker of the House vowed "not one dollar for a wall!" Remember?
However Donald Trump did institute a very effective "Remain in Mexico Policy" and Title 42.
Even democrats in Arizona know that it can be effective. The wall became a symbol for the resistance.
Promising a wall on "day One" of his presidency, Donald Trump, did not deliver. It was his responsibility to get the democratic party House to go along through compromise. It did not happen, because Trump further divided the politicians in D.C. And, apparently, the "Remain in Mexico Policy" is falling now, because its substance, that is, it's reason to be as a health deterrence policy, is not a stand-alone border policy. That is, Title 42 time mimicking a border wall is about to end!
Nice dodge. But, why scale the 'wall' when you don't have to climb it?
Democrats hated Trump. There was no chance for the wall, but as I said Trump did institute some very effective border policies.
Policies that Biden trashed.
Democrats fucked that up by not funding it.
Democrats have further fucked up the border by not enforcing it, or our immigration laws, in any way shape or form.
"Let them all in" is not an immigration policy.
So you gave Trump a pass on the border wall completion out of the goodness of MAGAN hearts. But choose to blame democrats for a lack of compromise and resolution. It's selective outrage. Biden is not a republican or conservative, so you are mistaken to expect he will conduct his presidency as either.
Why would he need a pass? He even took Defense dollars to build wall, trying to get around congress.
But choose to blame democrats for a lack of compromise and resolution.
I am rightfully blaming the democrats who would not spend anything on a wall and I am rightfully blaming Joe Biden and his handlers for dismantling what Trump did and blatantly opening the southern border.
Trump PROMISED a wall with a 'beautiful' door. Trump did not deliver it. But MAGAns choose to blame democrats for a lack of compromise and resolution. It's selective outrage. Biden is not a republican or conservative, so you are mistaken to expect he will conduct his presidency as either.
I'm sorry, but during Trump's first 2 years, which party was in charge of the Senate?
Which party was in charge of the House for those 1st 2 years?
Thanks for the insight, CB.
[✘]
Trump didn't need the Dems. Trump was torpedoed by the Republicans. After all, they had both the House and the Senate when Trump took office. The wall could have been built if that is what the Republicans really wanted. Apparently, it wasn't. This is a major reason I don't trust the Republicans.
There weren’t 60 republican senators.
Which returns the situation to a need for compromise, not one side take 'all.'
Why ask me? I am not connected to the congress in any significant way. So what compromises are MAGAns prepared to make with democrats in congress (if you know)?
Are you connected to the congress in any insignificant way?
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Considering that many liberal progressive Democrats have been shown to not really give rat's behind about our border crisis, the answer to that is pretty much a big fat ZERO!
The proverbial three monkeys come to mind here.
You can file it anywhere you want. And, you thought no such thing. After all, I have been 'sending' the immigration crisis and 'problem' to congress throughout this discussion! But, some MAGAns are not here for discussion. Enjoy the holiday (pay).
You mean that same Southern border our not so esteemed Vice President Kamala Harris and others brazenly claims is so secure?
The denials are wearing thin especially when democrats like Gavin Newsom are starting to complain.
They can't even tell us what "work" Harris is doing on securing the border.
White House unable to describe what Kamala Harris is doing on immigration
Oh, refer all questions about the vice president's work to her office.
I see.
And of course, there is nobody there.
But they met their diversity and inclusion quota's.
That's all that counts according to professor Derrick Bell.
Where is his biggest fan?
Haven't seen her in months.
Probably because most of her staff cannot stand her and have quit!
Seems that there are consequences for being the most wonderful country in the world, peace-loving, full of opportunity, the ultimate image of democracy, where everyone is safe and healthy, the personification of utopia, a virtual magnet. Maybe the solution would be to make America a less desireable destination. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Well, there is another solution. We could simply return to the immigration policies of Donald Trump.
If they know they can't walk in, they most likely won't try.
You mean build the wall? Then who's going to pick the fruit?
Do you think they are going to work when they can get Biden's handouts?
How 'bout them lazy "I ain't gonna do that kinda work" living off the welfare rolls?
OMG - did I say "work"????
Seems like there are plenty of those "too good" to actually have to work for a living.
Plenty fly in and just don't leave, Vic. These problems we are weathering are the 'trials' of success! People want in. Success is an attractant.
Most of the migrants will end either being on welfare paid for by citizens, or on the streets as homeless.
And most simply walk in via Joe Biden
They resisted that, didn't they?
I mean like the "Remain-in-Mexico Policy and the one that comes to an ebd Wednesday.
Btw Buzz, It always helps to actually want to protect the border
See anyone on the right not calling for those overstaying their VISA's to be deported?
It is up to Brandon the Human fuck up machine to enforce our immigration laws.
Maybe a solution (a partial one at least) would be to increase the number of and manpower at legal entry points.
Yes, and should be kept out
NO problem. Joe has it under control....................
Bingo! Personally, I'm tired of them running the alleys behind my house at night with the Border Patrol after them. Some try to cut through my yard by jumping my fence until my very large female black lab sits there in the dark waiting for them to try, then cuts loose. Funny as all get out watching it on my infrared trail cam I have set up.
You know that will never happen.
First of all it is necessary to recognize that illegally crossing the border is a crime. Next it is necessary to understand that those who engage in illegal activity do not have the same rights and privileges as those who don't break the law. Finally it is necessary to accept that immigrants illegally entering the country are in a completely different line and not at the back of the line. Illegal entry precludes eligibility for a pathway to citizenship.
The first step it to recognize the crime as a crime and to mark those engaged in that criminal activity as criminals.
The United States operates ports of entry to allow legal entry into the country. The United States has accepted millions of immigrants entering through ports of entry. Entering through a port of entry may not be as quick or as convenient as the criminal activity of jumping the border but that is the process established by international agreement. And going through the process of entering through a port of entry should earn a place in line for a pathway to citizenship.
I never said that America should accept illegal immigrants. My sarcasm was aimed at those who brag that America is the number one country in the world so maybe something should be done to make it less attractive.
Unless you are seeking asylum. That legalizes it.
You forgetting about Title 42? Oh, and the supreme court has put a pause on ending that as well.
Did you forget that part of that is the asylum seeker presenting themselves at a legal point of entry to the US?
We have legal entry points; yet the vast majority of immigrants miss them completely. Many are drug cartel cattle- the cartel directs them at the point they want them to cross and tie up what few BP they are. While their drug mules, gang members, and those that paid for entry that would not be granted it otherwise (terrorists, single males, criminals, etc.) cross a short distance away.
The vast majority of immigrants don't qualify for asylum. Needing a damn job and better living conditions is not a reason to grant asylum; no matter how hard Brandon massages the law.
Sanctuary cities run by progressives are starting to see the folly of wide open borders in the name of faux compassion.
They and Biden don't seem to realize they are directly aiding and abetting the cartels by allowing tremendous amounts of drugs into the US.
Why do some want to let all these foreigners in?
A simple answer is to increase their voter base.