El Paso County officials have announced the decision to gradually wind down operations at the county's migrant support services center. This move comes amidst concerns about the uncertainty of support and funding under the new Trump administration.
The county's migrant center, which was opened in October 2022, has provided assistance to over 115,000 migrants seeking asylum in the United States. The center has been instrumental in helping asylum seekers coordinate their travel arrangements after being processed by US immigration authorities and released into the El Paso area.
One of the primary reasons for the decision to scale back operations is the fear that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the incoming Trump administration, may redirect or repurpose the funds allocated to the county center. The county has received approximately $29 million in FEMA funds to support its humanitarian efforts.
The decrease in migrant apprehensions at the US southern border has also played a role in the center's winding down. Following an executive order issued by the Biden administration that practically banned asylum at the border and increased deportations, migrant apprehensions have significantly declined. In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security has deported over 160,000 individuals to more than 155 countries.
Border agents reported apprehending about 1,500 migrants on a recent Sunday, a stark contrast to the peak of 10,000 apprehensions per day in December 2023. The decrease in migrant arrivals has been so significant in El Paso that the Sacred Heart Church, which previously provided shelter to migrants, closed its doors due to the low number of arrivals in the city.
