Former El Paso U.S. Marshal Robert Almonte told “Fox & Friends First” Wednesday that the border crisis affects not only border communities, but the entire United States as migrants move across the country.
“When the floodgates are open, and the 42nd goes up, you’re going to see the dam break,” he warned.
TEXAS DEPARTED THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS IN 24 HOURS
Almonte said border communities like El Paso and Brownsville “don’t have the funding to deal with the situation” and desperately need help from the Biden administration.
“This affects state and local law enforcement agencies at the border and across the United States,” Almonte said. “These are immigrants, some of them commit crimes and many of them are victims of crime. So this is an issue where state and local governments are dealing with a federal problem.”
El Paso, Texas City Councilwoman Claudia Rodriguez said more money is not the only solution and the Biden administration is failing to protect the southern border. Rodriguez said on “Fox & Friends” Wednesday that his team feels “surprised” by the impending expiration of the 42nd title.
Rodriguez said “I don’t know what’s stopping the El Paso mayor, a Democrat,” from declaring a state of emergency.
“The community is asking him to do it. I’ve asked him to do it. I’m going to keep asking him to do it. But right now, 42 titles are still a few days away. I don’t know if there will be enough time to come down to El Paso to help us if necessary.”
Rodriguez also mentioned how the city of El Paso voted for Joe Biden and wants their concerns to be a priority for the president.
“You’re not even on his to-do list,” replied host Brian Kilmead.
“We’re overwhelmed. I know everybody goes to the CBP center. The CBP center is supposed to hold 1,040 people. And right now it’s over capacity. They have over 5,000 people,” Rodriguez said.
A migrant caravan of more than 1,000 people crossed the US-Mexico border into El Paso, Texas on Sunday, December 11, video shows.
(Fox News)
Fox News has obtained footage of a migrant convoy of more than 1,000 people crossing the US-Mexico border. El Paso, Texas.
This is how the video from Sunday night comes US Customs and Border Protection Its El Paso sector met 2,397 migrants in the last 24 hours, sources said on Monday.
There is a checkpoint in El Paso, where the Border Patrol has currently detained about 5,100 immigrants in that sector.
CBP said in a statement to Fox News on Monday afternoon that “Customs and Border Protection’s El Paso sector of the Texas border with Mexico has seen an increase in encounters.” “To process individuals as safely and expeditiously as possible, Big Bend Border Patrol agents and El Paso Field Office of CBP officers are assisting with processing.”
Fox News’ Greg Norman and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.