Local groups providing shelter to migrants in El Paso, Texas, have cautioned of the incoming arctic blast that could deepen the current humanitarian crisis at the border city.
There has been a recent surge at the border, as Title 42 — a Trump administration health policy that rapidly expelled migrants — is expected to end Dec. 21.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted another extension to the health order.
After nightfall on Sunday, Dec. 11, 1,500 migrants crossed the Rio Grande, hoping to be processed by border patrol.
El Paso has found itself overwhelmed with the recent migrant influx.
"The current situation in El Paso is still quite overwhelming, even though Title 42 has been delayed," John Martin, deputy director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless — a local homeless shelter currently offering migrants a place to stay in the city — told Newsweek.
"To give you an example, in our men's shelter last night, when I left at approximately 8:00 in the evening, we had 255 individuals within the building for a space that's designed for 120. So we were over 100% of our capacity."
Facilities are reaching total capacity, forcing migrants to sleep on the streets of downtown El Paso where temperatures drop to near freezing after sunset.
"It's definitely a crisis," Martin said. "We get concerned when the temperatures start to approach or drop below freezing overnight, and that's been the case over the last few days."
An arctic blast is forecasted to hit Texas over Christmas. The Nation Weather Service (NWS) issued a high risk of hazardous temperatures alert for most of Texas between Dec. 21-27.
"It's a reason for concern any time cold temperatures are upon us for the homeless in general, whether it be our local homeless population or our international population. The numbers [of homeless in El Paso] are increasing because of the number of migrants that we have," Martin continued.
"The temperatures are dropping, which means we have an increased need in the community. So these two factors — the surge in the number of migrants and colder temperatures — are coming together to a certain extent, colliding with one another."
Martin hopes El Paso authorities "will act fairly quickly," which he has reason to think, based on local news reports, that they will soon.
On the evening of Dec. 17, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, D-Texas, declared a state of emergency in the city. The following day, Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, released a statement that the American Red Cross was "preparing to stand up" an emergency shelter with a capacity of 10,000 in El Paso.
"This operation will support the ongoing efforts by the city and county to respond to the humanitarian challenges posed by the arrival of an unprecedented number of migrants at the border with Juarez and help better prepare El Paso for the imminent repeal of Title 42," Escobar said.
Judge Ricardo Samaniego and Mayor Leeser said the county and city authorities would provide support to the migrants that have been released by Border Patrol, helping them find shelter and travel.
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