Migrants take refuge in Downtown after 'state of emergency' declared by El Paso mayor

Aaron A. Bedoya, El Paso Times
·1 min read
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Hundreds of migrants are sleeping on sidewalks around Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown El Paso.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser declared a "state of emergency" Sunday afternoon that went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1.

Leeser highlighted at the news conference the need for staff to set up temporary housing as the uptick of migrants continues through the U.S. border.

"The reason why we're declaring this state of emergency is to make sure we can stand up and be prepared for May 11th to have public shelter and public housing. This is temporary housing; we do not provide permanent housing for anyone," Leeser said Sunday.

The end of Title 42 is May 11, and the mayor said a "figure that's anywhere between 10 to 12,000 people that are ready to come" when the border policy ends.

"We do know that there's additional coming right behind them and we are going to be prepared," Leeser said.

The mayor said that asylum seekers would be treated with "dignity and respect" and added it is important that migrants do not sleep or camp on the streets.

Here's the scene at Sacred Heart in Downtown El Paso:

Dig Deeper: How will El Paso handle the end of Title 42? Border Patrol chief shares his plans

More on Title 42: 'We are on edge': Migrant fears grow in El Paso border neighborhoods as Title 42 end nears

Migrants use portable bathrooms at Sacred Heart church on May 3, 2023. Hundreds of migrants are seeking refuge at the church in Downtown El Paso.
Migrants use portable bathrooms at Sacred Heart church on May 3, 2023. Hundreds of migrants are seeking refuge at the church in Downtown El Paso.
Migrants line up to get fed at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in El Paso, Texas on May 3, 2023. Hundreds of migrants are seeking refuge at the homeless center.
Migrants line up to get fed at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in El Paso, Texas on May 3, 2023. Hundreds of migrants are seeking refuge at the homeless center.
Migrants take refuge in an alley behind Sacred Heart Church as they fear deportation for not being in the country with proper documentation in El Paso, Texas on May 3, 2023.
Migrants take refuge in an alley behind Sacred Heart Church as they fear deportation for not being in the country with proper documentation in El Paso, Texas on May 3, 2023.
Venezuelan migrants are staying in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after crossing into the U.S.
Venezuelan migrants are staying in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after crossing into the U.S.
Venezuelan migrants are staying in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after crossing into the U.S.
Venezuelan migrants are staying in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after crossing into the U.S.
El Paso Police patrol El Paso streets where migrants are staying in front of Sacred Heart Church, on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
El Paso Police patrol El Paso streets where migrants are staying in front of Sacred Heart Church, on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
Venezuelan migrants are staying in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after crossing into the U.S.
Venezuelan migrants are staying in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after crossing into the U.S.
El Paso Police patrol El Paso streets where migrants are staying in front of Sacred Heart Church, on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
El Paso Police patrol El Paso streets where migrants are staying in front of Sacred Heart Church, on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
Migrants stay in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church in Downtown El Paso on Saturday, April 29, 2023, after crossing to the U.S.
Migrants stay in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church in Downtown El Paso on Saturday, April 29, 2023, after crossing to the U.S.
Migrants stay in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church in Downtown El Paso on Saturday, April 29, 2023, after crossing to the U.S.
Migrants stay in front and across the street of Sacred Heart Church in Downtown El Paso on Saturday, April 29, 2023, after crossing to the U.S.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser declares 'state of emergency'

The El Paso mayor declared a "state of emergency" Sunday afternoon that went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1.

Associated Press and Daniel Borunda contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Migrants take refuge in Downtown El Paso as Title 42 ends May 11