City of Eagle Pass Declares Local State of Disaster Due to Migrant Surge
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. issued and signed a Mayoral Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Migrant Surge on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at a hastily held press conference at City Hall.
Mayor Salinas’ Declaration states that “on September 18, 2023 the City of Eagle Pass, Texas experienced a severe undocumented immigrant surge into the City from Mexico.”
The Declaration further states that “approximately 800-900 undocumented immigrants crossed from Mexico into the United States through the City’s [Union Pacific Railroad] train bridge.”
The Declaration adds that “approximately 1100-1200 undocumented immigrants crossed from Mexico into the United States through the City’s 1416 marker.”
The Declaration adds that “said state of disaster requires that certain emergency protective measures be taken pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1973 relating in Emergency Management and Public Health pursuant to Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code.”
Mayor Salinas’ Declaration proclaims in Section No. 1 “that a local state of disaster is hereby declared for the City of Eagle Pass, Texas pursuant to Section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.
The Declaration proclaims in Section No. 3 “that pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code the state of disaster shall continue for a period of not more than seven (7) days from the date of this declaration, unless continued or renewed by the City Council of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas.”
Section No. 3 of the Declaration proclaims “that pursuant to Section 418.108(c) of the Texas Government Code this declaration of a local state of disaster shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City Secretary.”
Section No. 4 of the Declaration proclaims “that Section 418.108(d) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster activates the City of Eagle Pass, Texas Emergency Management Plan, and authorizes the furnishing of aid and assistance under the declaration.”
Section No. 5 of the Declaration states “that this declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.”
Mayor Salinas noted that “the City of Eagle Pass is committed to the safety and well being of our local citizens. The emergency declaration grants us the ability to request financial resources to provide the additional services caused by the influx of the undocumented immigrants.”
Mayor Salinas added that the City of Eagle Pass does not want to become like the City of Del Rio in 2021 which had over 15,000 migrants cross the Rio Grande from Mexico. Salinas stated the City of Eagle Pass will seek financial monies to reimburse the City’s increased costs of its Fire Department and Police Department as a result of the surge of migrants in the community.
The City will request funds from Governor Greg Abbott’s controversial Operation Lone Star Program to assist it offset and reimburse increased police and fire departments costs. Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star Program is flushed with cash as the Texas Legislature just approved $5.2 Billion for the 2023-2025 Biennium. Previously, the Texas Legislature had approved $4.8 Billion for Operation Lone Star during 2021-2023. In total, Operation Lone Star has received over $10 Billion from the Texas Legislature at the expense of state taxpayers.
