The incoming congresswoman of the Texas border city of El Paso is warning of an imminent "crisis" as local officials and charities scramble to accommodate at least 1,600 migrants dropped off there by federal authorities in recent days. Representative-elect Veronica Escobar, a Democrat, told CBS News, "We have these teams coming in to play in our Sun Bowl this weekend and the hotels are booked," referring to the college football game El Paso has hosted since 1935. "We're facing a real crisis coming up … to find places for all of these (migrant) families."Escobar said migrants who can't be housed in shelters have been staying in hotel rooms paid by Annunciation House, the non-profit spearheading the efforts to house and feed them. But, she said, if ICE continues releasing large numbers of migrants, the El Paso community will struggle to find places for them because many hotels have been booked by people attending Monday's game.Escobar added it's already been "very, very … [Read more...] about El Paso may face “crisis” housing migrants due to Sun Bowl, incoming congresswoman warns
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El Paso’s migrant children had a gift-filled Christmas thanks to two hotel employees
Christmas Eve was not a "silent night" in El Paso, Texas. Hundreds of migrant families were unexpectedly dropped off by ICE officials at a Greyhound bus station, a move that left volunteers working late into the night, finding hotels and shelters for the displaced families. But the commotion didn't stop two hotel employees from organizing a gift-filled Christmas morning for the migrant children, said Ruben Garcia, the director of Annunciation House, a shelter for migrants, during a press conference on Thursday. He said the workers' kindness should be copied by elected officials everywhere. Annunciation House typically works with ICE officials to find temporary housing for migrant families. But the drop off of hundreds of migrants in the days leading up to Christmas came as a surprise, and Garcia had to scramble to find lodging. When one hotel that Garcia had never worked with before said they had between 30 and 40 rooms available, he quickly booked them all. But … [Read more...] about El Paso’s migrant children had a gift-filled Christmas thanks to two hotel employees
ICE drops off almost 200 more migrants in El Paso
One-hundred-eighty-six more migrants were released in downtown El Paso, Texas by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Christmas Day, reports the CBS affiliate there, KDBC-TV. That came after approximately 400 were released in the southwest Texas city in the two days before Christmas. Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke, who represents El Paso, said he'd been told some 500 more would be released there Wednesday.Local nonprofit groups told the station the key difference Tuesday was that they were notified in advance by ICE of the mass release, something the groups and O'Rourke said didn't happen previously.As a result, the nonprofits were a bit more prepared for the large influx. "They're coming from immigration cells so they're coming hungry, they're coming thirsty, most haven't bathed in a long time. The situation is really difficult for them," said Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute.ICE said in a statement earlier this week the mass releases … [Read more...] about ICE drops off almost 200 more migrants in El Paso
Three finalists picked for El Paso County Court vacancy after voters oust judge
One of three attorneys will be selected this month to fill a vacancy on the El Paso County Court bench.Samorreyan Burney, Samuel Evig and Steven Jon Paul, all of Colorado Springs, are vying to succeed Christopher Acker, who failed to win retention in November.The finalists were selected Dec. 18 by the 4th Judicial District nominating commission.Gov. John Hickenlooper will appoint the successful candidate, in a decision expected by the end of December. Comments regarding the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at [email protected] El Paso County judge graded 'F' for bias and rudeness; panel recommends ousterBurney is an El Paso County prosecutor. Evig is a private criminal defense attorney in Colorado Springs and Paul works for an Englewood firm, practicing in insurance defense, business and commercial law and other areas.Acker, a 15-year veteran judge, lost his retention bid by a 6-point margin, making him one of two judges in Colorado who were turned … [Read more...] about Three finalists picked for El Paso County Court vacancy after voters oust judge
ICE unexpectedly drops hundreds of migrants at El Paso bus station
Hundreds of immigrants have been dropped off by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a bus station in downtown El Paso and hundreds more may be released in the southwest Texas city in coming days, reports the CBS affiliate there, KDBC-TV. El Paso's outgoing and incoming representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and local charity officials said ICE didn't give the city and charities time to prepare to handle the migrants. ICE fired back, blaming Congress for the sudden releases.ICE bussed 214 migrants to the depot Sunday night and some 200 more throughout the day Monday, which left El Paso's Office of Emergency Management and charities scrambling two days in a row, KDBC said.Greyhound told CBS News ICE sent the first group "without warning" and did something similar on Oct. 26.Volunteers came to the bus station to donate and hand out food and other items as arrangements were made to bring the migrants elsewhere.Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat, said in an interview … [Read more...] about ICE unexpectedly drops hundreds of migrants at El Paso bus station