Migrant surge has pushed El Paso to 'breaking point', says mayor

Robert Besser
29 Sep 2023, 04:12 GMT+10

Over the weekend, Oscar Leeser, Mayor of El Paso, said that the surge in migrants crossing the U.S. border from Mexico has pushed his city to "breaking point"
He added that more than 2,000 people seek asylum daily, exceeding shelter capacity and straining resources
El Paso plans to open a new shelter, and over the weekend, it chartered five buses to take migrants to New York, Chicago, and Denver, he added

EL PASO, Texas: Over the weekend, Oscar Leeser, Mayor of El Paso, said that the surge in migrants crossing the U.S. border from Mexico has pushed his city to "breaking point."

He added that more than 2,000 people seek asylum daily, exceeding shelter capacity and straining resources.

During a news conference, Leeser said, "The city of El Paso only has so many resources, and we have come to a breaking point right now."

El Paso plans to open a new shelter, and over the weekend, it chartered five buses to take migrants to New York, Chicago, and Denver, he further added.

Despite migrant numbers dropping in recent months, the surge, mainly from Venezuela, intensified the political attacks on U.S. President Joe Biden heading into the 2024 election.

The Republican governors of Texas and Florida have sent migrants to "liberal" cities, such as New York and Sacramento. But Democrat Leeser said that all migrants sent by bus from El Paso buses were going voluntarily to the cities of their choice.

Despite Biden being a good partner, the overall U.S. immigration system was broken, he stressed.

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