El Paso Faces Humanitarian Crisis Amid Migrant Influx
In early May 2023, a visit to El Paso, Texas revealed the ongoing crisis where hundreds of undocumented migrants are released daily by the Biden administration, camping on the streets of the city’s historic downtown. Between March and May 2023, over 100,000 migrants crossing from Mexico were apprehended by Border Patrol, with many of them eventually released onto the streets to seek asylum.
Reports from the region indicated that thousands of asylum seekers, having been released, set up makeshift shelters on city streets and in alleys, particularly around Sacred Heart Church. El Paso was struggling to provide for the large number of migrants, who often found themselves living on the streets for more than a week while trying to arrange transportation to other parts of the United States.
As the situation worsened, the mayor of El Paso declared a disaster and a state of emergency, addressing the humanitarian issues stemming from the large inflow of migrants living outdoors.
With afternoon temperatures often nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, many people sought shade. Observations noted that some migrants went days without bathing, trying to find relief from the heat on sidewalks and near businesses. Many resorted to begging for food and essentials from local shop owners.
The newly released migrants included individuals from countries like Venezuela, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. They were spotted lying on sidewalks near the church, with many telling reporters they had spent anywhere from one to nine days on the streets after being released from Border Patrol custody.
Numerous NGOs, such as the American Red Cross, responded to assist during this crisis, now entering its fourth year under President Biden’s administration. One Dominican immigrant, who was living in downtown El Paso, mentioned he and others camping outside lacked the funds for housing or relocation. Nearly 30 at the time, Jose Enrique expressed his intention to remain on the streets until he could find a way out of the city.
In April 2023 alone, Border Patrol apprehended over 41,000 undocumented migrants in the El Paso area, making it the most active stretch along the Southwest border during that period. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, in his characteristic negative tone, insisted that the border was not open.
He stated clearly, “The smugglers’ propaganda is false. Our borders are not open and will not be open after May 11,” highlighting the end of Title 42’s emergency COVID-19 expulsion powers.
By May 2025, four months into President Trump’s administration, Border Patrol arrests in the El Paso region plummeted to 2,011, a significant drop from the 26,172 arrests recorded in May 2023. The decline in illegal crossings was largely attributed to stricter enforcement policies, including the elimination of extensive catch-and-release practices and boosts in border prosecutions.
For crisis management in 2023, El Paso received about $45 million in federal funding. Audit documents revealed these funds were earmarked for crisis shelter, food, and transportation. Initially, spending was monitored via a web-based immigration crisis dashboard, which, however, is no longer operational.
