In the middle of the West Texas desert, a giant tent — bigger than a football field — is being thrown up by the US Border Patrol as El Paso prepares for a human tidal wave to cross the border with Mexico as soon as the Title 42 health policy comes to an end.
The makeshift facility northeast of downtown will serve as an overflow processing center when Title 42 expires — which could happen as soon as this week, depending on whether the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the Biden administration from 19 Republican-led states who want to keep the policy in place.
The Border Patrol already has a Central Processing Center in El Paso, but it will not be able to meet the demand post-Title 42 – when as many as 5,000 migrants per day are anticipated to enter the city.
“It’s still going to get worse before it even gets better, and that’s what we’re preparing for,” El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said Friday. “That’s what I call the unknown.”
“As we know [Border Patrol’s] CPC, central processing center, has a capacity of 1,400; we know that their breaking point is 5,000,” El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario D’Agostino said at a public meeting the same day. “With this surge, they know that they will not be able to hold it.”
El Paso officials have previously said as many as 20,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico, hoping to gain entry into the US after Title 42 goes away.
On Monday, fewer migrants were lined up on the Mexican side of the border compared to last week. Some of the lighter traffic was due to word reaching them that Title 42 was still in effect — for now. Some of it was due to additional enforcement put in place by Texas officials. see also
Shipping containers forming a border barrier have been put in place by members of the Texas National Guard. The Texas Military Department has also added three rows of concertina razor wire near a popular border crossing in El Paso. --->READ MORE HERE
A huge ‘tent city’ for migrants entering the US from Mexico is under construction on the fringes of El Paso as officials scramble to prepare for a surge in crossings when Title 42 ends.
The massive processing facility, which covers an area the size of several football fields, is being built in a patch of desert about 20 miles northeast of downtown El Paso.
Trucks carrying equipment and machinery have been making regular deliveries to the site in recent days.
Security guards told DailyMail.com the facility could be in place for 'a few weeks or six months, we don't know' - and it won't be ready to use until around January 10.
The Supreme Court issued a last-minute ruling on Tuesday afternoon to say Title 42 will stay in place until legal battles are heard in court in 2023. It was previously due to expire as early as midnight on Tuesday.
Workmen on Tuesday morning were completing the main, soft-side tent which runs the length of around two football fields. Other tents were also under construction around the main structure.
The speed and scale of the operation reveals the massive steps border patrol authorities are taking to prevent chaos when Title 42 does eventually end.
Several more of the facilities could also be constructed around El Paso in the coming days and weeks.
Around the site, rows of shipping containers and makeshift offices were set up for workers and managers to coordinate the rapid construction operation. --->READ MORE HERE
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