Samaniego, Leeser, Escobar meet with DHS secretary amid migrant crisis

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso has seen another migrant crisis at the border as a large caravan made their way to the border.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited El Paso on Tuesday to meet with El Paso leaders to find solutions on the migrant crisis.

Thousands of migrants turned themselves in to Border Patrol agents over the weekend.

Mayorkas visited the border to see for himself what the community has been seeing in the past days.

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CBS4 spoke to El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. They both said the biggest issue that was discussed with Mayorkas is that more funding is needed.

"He talked a lot about the FEMA funding one of the challenges that we have at this time is FEMA funding," said Samaniego.

Samaniego, Escobar and El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser met with Mayorkas.

Many migrants who are unsponsored and without money for immediate travel arrangements are spending the night out on the streets as shelters are at capacity.

Leeser has said he is holding off in declaring a state of emergency which would access funding from the state.

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"I’m not ready to declare a state of emergency today it doesn’t mean that I am not looking at maybe doing it, making sure we do it the right way," said Leeser.

Leeser and Samaniego are the only people in El Paso who could declare a state of emergency.

Samaniego explained why he hasn't declared a state of emergency.

"Us not wanting to declare is we’re concerned the minute we declare we’re not going to be able to choose our resources and the governor can determine what those resources are," said Samaniego.

Samaniego said he has reached out to Governor Greg Abbott several times requesting a meeting to discuss how the state can help El Paso.

"I wish we had that level of relationship with the governor, but you know he does not pay attention to El Paso. He pays attention to Del Rio and the areas that are more republican areas," said Samaniego.

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Escobar said she doesn't see a reason to declare a state of emergency but said it's up to Leeser and Samaniego to decide.

"If it does not come with significant resources or added resources that could be useful I guess my question would be what’s the purpose?" asked Escobar.

Escobar and Samaniego said they believe Abbott doesn't have El Paso best interest in mind.

"The actions that he might take are not favorable to this very collaborative strategic thing that we’re doing. Sending buses and doing that without collaborating with us does not help," said Samaniego.

CBS4 asked DHS for an interview with Mayorkas but were rejected. Mayorkas only spoke to the El Paso Times and KTEP.

CBS4 reached out to the governor's office for comment but we did not receive a response.

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