Texas Border Surge Could Spell Humanitarian Disaster as Arctic Blast Hits

Local groups providing shelter to migrants in El Paso, Texas, have warned that an incoming Arctic blast expected to sweep across the state over Christmas could deepen a humanitarian crisis that's threatening to unfold in the border city.

A surging number of migrants have been crossing the U.S. Southern border into El Paso in recent weeks, as Title 42—the measure allowing U.S. officials to rapidly expel migrants arriving at its land borders on the basis of preventing a potential health threat to Americans—was set to expire on December 21. On Monday, the Supreme Court voted to grant another extension to the health order.

In one of the largest single crossings in recent years in West Texas, around 1,500 migrants walked across the Rio Grande after nightfall on Sunday December 11 hoping to be processed by border patrol.

Despite the best efforts of the traditionally welcoming Texan city to take care of the newly arrived migrants, El Paso found itself overwhelmed by this recent influx of families and individuals crossing the border.

"The current situation in El Paso is still quite overwhelming, even though Title 42 has been delayed," John Martin, deputy director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless—a local homeless shelter currently offering many migrants a place to stay in the city—told Newsweek.

"To give you an example, in our men's shelter last night, when I left at approximately 8:00 in the evening, we had 255 individuals within the building for a space that's designed for 120. So we were over 100 percent of our capacity."

As facilities reached their full capacity, many migrants were forced to sleep on the streets of downtown El Paso, according to what locals told Newsweek. As temperatures drop near freezing point in the hours after sunset, many have been worried about the conditions of migrants spending the night outdoors.

"It's definitely a crisis," Martin said. "We get concerned when the temperatures start to approach or drop below freezing overnight, and that's been the case over the last few days," he said.

An arctic blast has been forecasted to hit Texas over Christmas, with much of the state expected to experience colder-than-normal temperatures.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a high risk of hazardous temperatures alert for most of Texas—and the rest of the U.S.—between December 21 and 27, as the arctic blast should move across the country.

"It's a reason for concern any time cold temperatures are upon us for the homeless in general, whether it be our local homeless population or our international population. The numbers [of homeless in El Paso] are increasing because of the number of migrants that we have," Martin continued.

"The temperatures are dropping, which means we have an increased need in the community. So these two factors—the surge in the number of migrants and colder temperatures—are coming together to a certain extent, colliding with one another."

Martin said he hopes that El Paso authorities "will act fairly quickly" on the imminent crisis. He has reason to think, based on local news reports, that city authorities will intervene soon.

On the night of December 17, El Paso Democratic Mayor Oscar Leeser declared a state of emergency in the city, unlocking additional resources to face what the mayor expected to be a surge in the number of migrant crossing after Wednesday.

The following day, Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar released a statement saying that the American Red Cross was "preparing to stand up" an emergency shelter in El Paso that could have the capacity to offer shelter to up to 10,000 migrants through late January.

"This operation will support the ongoing efforts by the city and county to respond to the humanitarian challenges posed by the arrival of an unprecedented number of migrants at the border with Juarez and help better prepare El Paso for the imminent repeal of Title 42," the Texas representative said.

In a joint press conference on Monday, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and Leeser said that county and city authorities would continue to provide support to migrants released by Border Patrol and help them find shelter and travel on.