San Antonio Running Out of Options to Support Migrants

Migrants in San AntonioPhoto byX (Twitter)

San Antonio’s Migrant Resource Center is on the verge of shutting down. Without funding from the federal government, U.S. Customs and Border Protection may release migrants on city streets as they have in San Diego.

Last month, a San Diego migrant resource center used all of its money and closed down according to Fox 5. Border Patrol had few options and dropped off migrants at the airport. Some waited at the airport for days.

Now, San Antonio could face a similar situation.

The San Antonio Migrant Resource Center is low on funds and could shut down operations.

On March 7, the City Council sought ways to keep the migrant resource center open as federal funding could run out. The resource center has helped over 280,000 migrants with food, shelter, and transportation.

Councilman Whyte said according to a City of San Antonio website:

“The majority of migrants traveling to our City are no doubt good people who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. However, our citizens expect their tax dollars to be used on San Antonians, and we must prioritize our people over all others. I do not want to see us get ourselves into a situation where our basic city services will be compromised because we are funding migrant services here in our city.”

Here are more details on the migrant resource center and its issues:

Though the number of migrants entering Texas this year has decreased, it is causing a strain in San Antonio.

Spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety Chris Olivarez said there has been a decrease in migrants entering Texas because of the increased security that Governor Abbott has provided.

In addition, Border Patrol set up a processing center in Shelby Park in Eagle Pass where migrants turned themselves as they surrendered to U.S. authorities. This is also the location where an immigrant on the FBI Terror Watchlist was arrested last month before President Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump visited shortly after according to Yahoo News.

Lieutenant Olivarez said last month according to The Washington Post:

“There’s no processing center under the bridge because Border Patrol is gone. The migrants are choosing to go to other areas.”

Do you think San Antonio will use city funds to support migrants?