Bi-National Collaboration Sets Role Model for Future Migrant Caravans at United States-Mexico Border

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019

Both Mexican and American governmental and immigration authorities’ collaboration in the handling and processing of over 1,800 Central American migrants that arrived aboard a 49 charter bus caravan on Monday, February 4, 2019 in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, across from Eagle Pass, Texas, is being hailed as a role model by U.S. and Mexican authorities on the proper handling and processing of future migrant caravans.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has ordered that the more than 1,800 Central American migrants be treated with respect and dignity, said Reyes Flores Huerta, Federal Government Representative of the State of Coahuila. Flores Huerta added that President Lopez Obrador wants all migrants be treated in a humanitarian way while in Mexico.  Many of the migrants have been issued a humanitarian visa by the Mexican government to travel through Mexico as well as a visa to stay, live, and work in Mexico for those who choose to do so.

The Mexican federal government through its military and federal police joined the State of Coahuila and the City of Piedras Negras, Coahuila in providing shelter and basic human necessities such as temporary housing, food, restrooms, clothing, public health, security, and internet service to the 1,800 Central American migrants while they are at the Mexico-U.S. Border awaiting the processing of their asylum applications by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, a process that may take up to six months.

Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor Claudio Bres Garza stated that his municipality and the State of Coahuila goal is to provide basic humanitarian needs of the Central American migrants in an orderly and coordinated fashion and to avoid mass chaos within Piedras Negras, while providing for the safety, welfare, and public health of the overall citizens of Piedras Negras from the Central American migrants.

In addition to the arrival of this 1,800 Central American migrant caravan, Piedras Negras also receives between 30 to 50 other migrants daily that are independent from the caravan and seek temporary food and shelter while they seek to attempt to enter the United States, stretching this Mexican border city’s resources beyond its maximum capacity.  The longstanding charitable Home of the Migrants in Piedras Negras provides food and shelter to another approximately 100 to 120 migrants on a daily basis.

Piedras Negras, Coahuila is doing a remarkable and extraordinary job in handling and processing migrants and satisfying their humanitarian needs while maintaining law and order and avoiding mass chaos and unrest among the migrants and providing for the safety of its over 300,000 citizens.  Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor Claudio Bres Garza and all local, state, and federal agencies and charitable organizations, including the Catholic Church and business community, are to be commended for their positive and proactive attitude in providing solutions to the largest humanitarian crisis facing this Mexican border community in its history.

While the City of Piedras Negras’s herculean humanitarian efforts and response to this crisis is only one week in operation, it is definitely a positive role model on how to handle such large humanitarian crises in the future and a true testament to the grit and tenacity of the people living on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Like most U.S.-Mexico border communities, the City of Eagle Pass, Texas enjoys a historic friendship and bonding relationship with Piedras Negras, Coahuila that they often act and work as if it was just one community despite being in two countries.  The Rio Grande River is not a fence between these two communities as many in Washington, D.C. would make one believe, but rather is a bridge of friendship, family, culture, trade, love, and peace.  Both Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras annually celebrate each March the International Friendship Festival and the traditional and symbolic “Abrazo de la Amistad” to commemorate their historic friendship and collaborative bonds that make them unique and truly exemplary sister cities on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu stated that he and city, state, and federal authorities have been in daily communication with Piedras Negras Mayor Claudio Bres Garza and Mexican authorities regarding the large Central American migrant caravan as well as many other issues.  Mayor Cantu added that the City of Eagle Pass stands ready to assist Piedras Negras in any of its needs. For instance, a cold front hit the Piedras Negras-Eagle Pass area on Thursday, February 7, 2019, and many of the Central American migrants lacked appropriate jackets to bear the colder temperatures and Piedras Negras Mayor Claudio Bres Garza immediately called Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu asking him if Eagle Pass could help with providing jackets for the migrants. Mayor Cantu made some quick telephone calls to several businesses and in a matter of less than one hour, more than 100 jackets were obtained from Eagle Pass businesses and Mayor Cantu purchased some too with his own money to donate to the migrants.  Both Mayors have known each other and worked together for many years representing the extraordinary bond found among the cities and people of Piedras Negras, Coahuila and Eagle Pass, Texas at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Although the United States has reinforced the Piedras Negras-Eagle Pass border with over 1,800 federal CBP, Border Patrol, National Guard Troops, Texas DPS Troopers, Maverick County Sheriff Department Deputies, and Eagle Pass Police Officers since the arrival of the 1,800 Central American migrant caravan, Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated that he welcomes everyone visiting and working in Eagle Pass concerning the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Piedras Negras, Coahuila and State Representative Alfonso “Poncho” Nevarez, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, stated that both the United States and Mexico are working together in the safe handling and processing of the large Central American migrant caravan while maintaining the safety of all citizens.  Eagle Pass Port of Entry CBP Director Paul Del Rincon reiterated the mission of CBP at the U.S.-Mexico border its to protect the homeland security of the United States.

While the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border in Piedras Negras, Coahuila and Eagle Pass, Texas was spontaneous, both communities’ longstanding, historic friendship and bonding, which goes unrecognized in Washington, D.C., has created a bi-national collaborative approach and role model towards the handling and processing of future migrant caravans and humanitarian crises along the U.S.-Mexico border.