FAQs

Who are the people crossing into El Paso?
The people crossing come from all over the world. The situation is dynamic. However, the main countries migrants are arriving from today are Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
When did the current surge begin?
The migrant crisis has been ongoing since 2018. Large waves of migrants coming to El Paso began in April 2022 and again in late August 2022. The current wave of migrants beginning in December 2022 is the largest we have experienced. The number of people released to the City of El Paso and local non-government organizations (NGOs; i.e., humanitarian agencies) has grown from approximately 250 per day in early August, over 1,000 per day during September, to 2,000 a day in December 2022. The number fluctuates daily.
Is everyone crossing a single adult?
The situation is dynamic, but today, those crossing are predominantly single adults. However, families with young children and extended relatives are arriving as well.
Where are these individuals and family units coming from?
Today, migrants are arriving from Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) encounter/apprehend the migrants and process them before releasing them into the City of El Paso.
Are families separated when they arrive?
No, the City of El Paso does not separate families. We are providing assistance to keep immediate and extended families together, but some are separated as they cross into the country. We are in constant communication with other shelters to try to reunify families when possible. As needed, families are provided accommodation so that they may remain together. The City of El Paso provides shelter primarily through the utilization of NGO shelters and the City’s temporary shelter facilities, then turning to hotels when necessary. This has been the process during the surge we are currently experiencing, as well as during past waves.
How do these people arrive in El Paso?
For most, their journey starts in South America. Migrants arriving from countries in the lower Western Hemisphere travel through one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes known as the Darien Gap, into Central America and Mexico, eventually arriving at our portion of the U.S.-Mexico border. The migrants arrive by bus, train, or on foot, while others fly into Mexico and make their way to the U.S.-Mexico border.
How many people arrive each day?
According to CBP officials, an average of 2,000 migrants present themselves daily to CBP in the El Paso region. Once processed, approximately 1,000-2,000 are released daily to local NGOs and the City of El Paso migrant shelters. Those migrants who are release to the City’s temporary shelter are provided food, water, access to free WiFi, and we help coordinate transportation assistance through chartered buses and other available travel options including state-sponsored buses.
How many migrants have arrived since the wave started?
From April 2022 to mid-September 2022, more than 62,000 people have passed through El Paso. In September alone, more than 13,000 have passed through El Paso. Currently, December 2022 has seen more than 6,000 released into El Paso, the highest number of migrants we have received.
Why is this movement into El Paso happening now?
Migrants are arriving in El Paso because it is currently the safest place to cross the Rio Grande into the United States. These individuals primarily are coming to the United States to escape economic devastation and rampant crime in Venezuela and other distressed nations. With the looming end of Title 42, immigration will no longer be impacted by the public health policy. Wintertime is also a cooler time to make these long journeys from their home countries. However, the border region is experiencing rapid drops in temperature that can be dangerous for migrants so processing them quickly is of the utmost importance.
Why are they allowed to cross into the country?
Migrants are provided asylum from economic oppression, drug trade violence, and human trafficking. CBP apprehend and process the migrants before releasing them into El Paso. Migrants are assigned court dates to determine their status in the United States. Additionally, due to U.S. and Venezuelan diplomatic relations, Venezuelans are not able to be deported. The end of Title 42 would lift public health restrictions on immigration, allowing for increased processing of migrants be CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
What is the City of El Paso doing to help migrants passing through our community?
The City of El Paso is focused on assisting the migrants passing through our community in the most humane, respectful, and efficient way. Migrants received by the City of El Paso are provided with food and water, connectivity, transportation assistance, and temporary shelter, if needed. We treat migrants with respect and dignity, as they transit through El Paso, and help them arrive at their destination of choice, where they can meet with family and sponsors. We have over 100 people helping with this humanitarian crisis. Due to the impending expiration of Title 42, Mayor Leeser declared a State of Emergency on December 17 to prepare for the arrival of large numbers of migrants. Through this declaration, emergency shelters and support services have been set up throughout the city in joint efforts with our Communities of Excellence partners such as the County of El Paso, El Paso Independent School District, NGOs, the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Foodbank, UnitedWay, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other key organizations and individuals.
Who are the partners working with the City of El Paso to support this humanitarian care operation?
Federal and State officials, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, State Senator Cesar Blanco, and NGOs such as the Annunciation House, the Salvation Army, the Opportunity Center, Sin Fronteras, United Way, American Red Cross and the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Foodbank are working with the City of El Paso to provide food and shelter. In addition, the City is working with officials and NGOs in New York City and Chicago to coordinate transportation in those cities, as these are the most common destinations of choice for the migrants. Due to the State of Emergency declared on December 17, 2022 by Mayor Oscar Leeser, Texas National Guardsmen and the American Red Cross have also been deployed to assist the Office of Emergency Management operations.
Why are migrants on the streets, at the Greyhound Bus Station, and at the El Paso International Airport?
Street releases are a last resort for CBP. When necessary, due to capacity issues and federal regulations which limit the amount of time migrants may be held, street releases of migrants are done near travel sites, such as the El Paso International Airport and the Greyhound Bus Station. The City provides daily roving teams to assist migrants who have been released on the streets with temporary shelter, food and water, communication, and transportation arrangements so that they may meet up with family or sponsors in other parts of the U.S.
Does the City of El Paso detain these people?
No, the City of El Paso does not detain any migrant. The Federal Government apprehends migrants by CBP agents. Once CBP has processed migrants, they are released and free to travel within the U.S. At this point, we help them coordinate transportation to their final destination.
Does the City of El Paso transport these people without their permission?
No. The City of El Paso helps the migrants with travel arrangements to destination cities of their choice so they can meet up with their sponsors, friends, and family.
How is the City of El Paso paying for the costs of welcoming, feeding, processing, and transporting these people to their destinations of choice?
The costs for migrants are covered through FEMA’s emergency food and shelter grant on a reimbursement basis. We work closely with Congresswoman Escobar’s office, FEMA, the White House, CBP, and DHS to secure funding for the migrant crisis.
The City previously received notice that FEMA has identified nearly $3.8 million as partial reimbursement for the City’s third-quarter expenses (July-Sept). The total reimbursement request is $5.13 million. The City received the $3.8 million on Wednesday, December 21. The City also received advanced funding from FEMA in October 2022 for $2 million.
On Thursday, December 22, FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program’s National Board approved $4.39 million for the City of El Paso’s expenses regarding the migrant crisis.
The funds are in addition to the $6 million FEMA’s EFSP approved on December 13, bringing the total of promised funding to $10.39 million. The City is pending the formal award letter and payment.
How much, on average, is the City of El Paso spending each day to care for these people?
The cost has risen from $55,000 a day to up to $250,000 daily. As the number of migrants rises, so do the costs accrued by the City of El Paso. El Paso continues to request reimbursement through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
What is the State of Texas doing to assist the City of El Paso with this humanitarian care operation?
The Mayor’s State of Emergency declaration called for increased support from the state of Texas. Governor Greg Abbott deployed 400 Texas National Guardsmen to El Paso to assist with local emergency management operations. Previously, the state of Texas provided support from the Texas Division of Emergency Management by sending Texas State Guards to see our operations in anticipation of providing help processing migrants. However, they only remained in El Paso for a few days. After the State of Emergency declaration, the City of El Paso announced that the Office of Emergency Management remains in control of migrant operations which include providing food and water, temporary shelter (hotel stays) and transportation. The City also has over 100 individuals working on this operation.
What is the Federal government doing to assist the City of El Paso with this humanitarian operation?
The Federal government will reimburse the City of El Paso through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program on a quarterly basis.
The City previously received notice that FEMA has identified nearly $3.8 million as partial reimbursement for the City’s third-quarter expenses (July-Sept). The total reimbursement request is $5.13 million. The City received the $3.8 million on Wednesday, December 21. The City also received advanced funding from FEMA in October 2022 for $2 million.
On Thursday, December 22, FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program’s National Board approved $4.39 million for the City of El Paso’s expenses regarding the migrant crisis.
The funds are in addition to the $6 million FEMA’s EFSP approved on December 13, bringing the total of promised funding to $10.39 million. The City is pending the formal award letter and payment.
How can members of the community help with this humanitarian care operation?
Members of the community can help by volunteering their time at local NGO shelters and making monetary donations to local NGO shelters. Please visit this webpage to view a list of participating charities accepting donations https://www.elpasotexas.gov/migrant-crisis/donate/

Migrant Crisis

FAQs