El Paso Leaders Planned Emergency Declaration For Immigrant Surge

The New York Post ran a story on May 19, claiming that El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego would declare a state of emergency in anticipation of a surge of immigrants after Title 42 lifts.

Title 42, known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, was a Trump-era measure to stem the tide of immigrants, including asylum-seekers, due to the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The Biden administration is expected to undo the measure, but, as of yet, Title 42 remains in place.

According to the Post report, Samaniego was expected to make the emergency declaration the same day the story ran, May 19^th.  However, Judge Samaniego never moved ahead with the declaration.

Meantime, local immigrant shelters are saying they will be overwhelmed if and when Title 42 is rescinded. Last week, over 100 immigrants (primarily Haitian men) were put on the streets of El Paso after Border Patrol, and shelters had reached their capacity.

“Communities sort of panic,” the Post quoted Samaniego as saying. “El Paso is really developing as a place you want to come to. People always comment how you don’t see the homeless on the streets. So we’re going from that to seeing people (meaning the shelter-less immigrants) sleeping out on the street”.

The New York Post seems to be leaning into the “El Paso is turning anti-immigrant” angle. After the emergency declarations from the May 19^th story failed to materialize, the Post followed up with “Anti-immigrant Sentiment Grows in Long-welcoming El Paso.”

For some reason, the Murdoch-owned tabloid is really trying to make the “El Paso is turning MAGA” story happen. I think it bears keeping an eye on this narrative the Post is pushing for people who live in this community.