EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso City Council failed to extend its monthly emergency migrant ordinance that allows greater assistance for Borderland non-governmental organizations and humanitarian groups to address the influx of migrants across the border.
The vote came during the City Council’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 26.
The ordinance requires a unanimous vote by the mayor and the City Council to extend it for another 30 days. It will now expire on Thursday, Feb. 29.
City Rep. Josh Acevedo was the sole city representative to vote against the extension. Acevedo recently took office after winning a special election to succeed Alexsandra Annello who is running for state House District 77.
The City Attorney’s Office will now draft a local disaster declaration to be signed by Mayor Oscar Leeser to address “the humanitarian and public safety crisis resulting from the mass migration through El Paso,” the City said in a news release.
The local disaster declaration that will be drafted by the City Attorney’s Office will remain in effect for seven days once signed by the mayor and will need to be renewed every seven days to remain in effect, the City said in its news release.
The disaster declaration will allow the community to formally implement emergency plans; provide added liability protection for government agencies and volunteer emergency workers; formally request “general assistance” from the federal government; activate local emergency plans; and suspend selected codes and ordinances that “would allow for the use of facilities such as schools to be used as shelters,” according to the City.
Additionally, roving teams will continue traveling to different parts of the City where migrants are gathering to provide transportation services and/or help them identify temporary shelter services, according to the City.
“While we are disappointed by the narrow margin of the vote on the amended emergency ordinance, the City of El Paso remains unwavering in its dedication to addressing the pressing humanitarian and public safety issues brought about by the influx of migrants,” Leeser said. “We recognize the importance of collaborative efforts with the NGOs and humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to those in need, which is why I intend to sign the local disaster declaration. The impending disaster declaration is a crucial step in mobilizing essential resources and ensuring a coordinated response to the challenges we face in our community.”
Acevedo said he voted against the extension as a protest against the actions of the State of Texas and is “a call to our state leaders to provide a more humanitarian response to migrants arriving at our border.”
Acevedo also said he voted against the extension because there was “no clarity around the exact amount of state resources and law enforcement personnel that have been invited into our community because of these declarations.
“After questions with City staff, I felt obligated to vote no on this item,” Acevedo said. “I am open to hearing more in the future weeks and commit to meeting with City staff to discuss how to address this issue at length with more data that better illustrates how this is impacting our community.”
Acevedo also cited the shutdown of the former Morehead Middle School as a migrant shelter a month and a half ago and said that Deputy City Manager Mario D’Agostino described migrant numbers as “drastically low.”
Here is the rest of Acevedo’s statement:
“We have seen Texas DPS high speed chases within our community that have terrorized innocent members of our community. We have seen the State of Texas erect barriers, razor wire, and bring in military equipment that send a message contrary to the values that make our community El Paso Strong. Recently, we have seen the Attorney General of Texas go after our shelter network here at the City of El Paso.
“My vote today is a protest of the actions of the state and a call to our state leaders to provide a more humanitarian response to migrants arriving at our border. There has not been enough transparency on how many state troopers have been invited to the community because of our declaration. Our local bus companies have been sued because of the state’s actions.
“Upon election to this office, I committed to community-oriented leadership from my office. Hearing from residents this morning and over the past week, it is clear to me that our community feels their safety is compromised because of how the State of Texas operates in our community. While staff maintains that Texas has their own level of operations, we play a part in passing a declaration ordinance.
“The City can still pass a disaster declaration with the State at a later time and at any time. I am open to reconsidering my stance after there is more transparency on what the declaration with the State brings to our community other than hindering our public safety through high-speed chases and harassment.
“Council has asked for this data, and we have not received it. Unfortunately, there is data that we do know. There have been over 300+ high speed chases and seven deaths in our community because of direct intervention from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Collaboration currently is not the best course of action when our city is being used for political theater. I look forward to the next time the disaster declaration comes to council in the hopes that the community’s questions and my questions can be answered.”
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