In July, Secure the Border advocate Kathy Countiss stated that local law enforcement reported a significant influx of illegal aliens flooding the El Paso sector, citing more than 1,000 apprehensions or transfers into the area per day. Since then, the situation in El Paso has only further declined.
Recently, Border Report reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing centers were forced to release illegal aliens into the El Paso community to “decompress” the overrun facilities. The area’s local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also at capacity. This is similar to illegal aliens released into communities across the Del Rio sector, particularly Eagle Pass, and across Texas metroplex areas such as San Antonio as many of the NGO and CBP processing facilities continue to be overrun.
Many illegal migrants in El Paso are given tents and find themselves sleeping on the ground outside of the bus station, as almost none of the Venezuelans who have illegally crossed have sponsors–––individuals in the U.S. who take in those claiming to seek asylum, typically family members or friends. The lack of sponsorship means that these individuals lack plans of where to go or funds once they arrive in the United States.
While individuals from numerous countries are currently being apprehended in El Paso, it appears to be those from Venezuela that are left on the streets waiting for transportation. Anthony Aguero, an independent journalist with Border Network News, interviewed numerous homeless asylum seekers, who detailed the treacherous journey through the Darien Gap. Many stated they would not recommend the journey to anyone and would not risk the dangerous journey again. A few detailed their experience, stating they witnessed numerous dead bodies as they traveled through the Gap. According to the undocumented aliens, the “guides” have no regard for life and just push the bodies off the paths. Some of the homeless aliens from communist Venezuela, many with young children, have waited six days for the promised bus to New York or other locations.
Why is El Paso experiencing such a massive spike in apprehensions? Anthony points to the recent number of drownings in the Del Rio sector and a monsoon wiping out commonly used travel routes in Mexico, forcing many to take alternate routes of travel to the U.S. border. Another factor may be the closeness to the international airport in Ciudad Juarez, located right across from El Paso, Texas. Many of the illegal aliens are now using “travel agents,” as reported by Border Network News, and pay extra to smugglers to travel by airplane.
Two weeks ago, Aguero documented well over 50 buses traveling from Juarez to the location where large groups just happen to be apprehended the most. The property where a large portion of the apprehensions are taking place also happens to be owned by the Binational Infrastructure Task Force. The Binational Infrastructure Task Force is international privately owned land utilized for a joint Mexico/U.S. infrastructure system that the current El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who is known for her open border type policies, proudly co-chairs.
Aguero reports daily apprehensions of 1,000 to 1,300 a night coming through El Paso, according to his local Border Patrol sources. These staggering numbers are typically unusual for the El Paso sector, as Secure the Border noted previously. These recent numbers would place three of the five Texas sectors within the top rankings for total CBP southwestern border apprehensions; Del Rio and Rio Grande Valley (RGV) sectors continue to sustain first and second place, and El Paso recently pulled higher apprehensions than the Yuma, Arizona sector, which typically holds third place.
The El Paso City Council’s solution to this massive influx is approving $2 million over the next 16 months to fund busing illegal aliens to other cities, contracting Gogo Charters LLC for transportation. The city council did not state where Gogo Charters intends to drop off the migrants.
El Paso’s situation has quietly put many of the residents on edge, concerned for their safety. According to Aguero, local operators are now told to use caution when walking to their vehicles after their shifts’ end, as law enforcement officials are overwhelmed. Anthony reports that the city is utilizing a COVID response center in Northeast El Paso in addition to two motels to house the illegal aliens. Aguero also reports that off-duty police officers are being used to help monitor the motels and COVID response shelter.
During Aguero’s live broadcast, dozens of men, women, and children can be seen crossing over the shallow river with ease. Many can be heard laughing as they run from the vehicle dropping them off on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande to join the larger group under the International Bridge.
Despite El Paso being overrun, Anthony reports that beginning Thursday evening, the Del Rio CBP sector will begin transporting more illegal aliens to the El Paso sector area. Aguero, who just returned from covering the Arizona southern border, says, “We have no border; it is non-existent.”
There are now 30 counties that have signed resolutions or declarations identifying this border crisis as an invasion and supporting Governor Abbott in using all constitutional means to secure the sovereign state of Texas. With more than 1.9 million apprehensions so far this fiscal year, it is clear the federal government will not willingly protect Texas citizens and territory. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Texas to do so. If your county has not adopted a similar resolution, Alliance for a Safe Texas encourages local residents to reach out to their county judge and commissioners and encourage them to consider adopting a declaration of support. Examples can be found here.
Anthony Aguero and Border Network News can be found here.
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