An influx of arrivals has created a demand for more shelter space
In an attempt to provide more humanitarian care for the wave of migrants crossing into the US from Central and South America in recent weeks, the US government has begun erecting tents at the foothills of the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas, close to the border with Mexico in a bid to house up to 500 persons.
The migrants’ arrival has put a strain on processing capabilities at US Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) facilities, and the lack of space has meant some migrants have been forced to sleep in open-air conditions underneath the Bridge of the Americas that spans the border between El Paso in the US and the city of Juárez in Mexico.
The move towards the construction of new facilities comes after press reports last month highlighted the conditions at the border and local advocates and public officials criticised the CBP for failing to suitably shelter migrants. The additional temporary facilities will enable the CBP to continue to process migrants arriving at the border. The main frames of two large tents were erected last week and construction crews are working to outfit the interior. The shelter is expected to be operational by 1 May.
With temperatures in El Paso beginning to rise, some local advocates still have concerns about the conditions the migrants may face inside the tents, but it is hoped that they will be detained in a manner that is humane.
