San Antonio gets $40 million to help migrants. Not everyone is convinced it's the answer

News4SA
by Amanda Henderson, Photojournalist: Emilio Sanchez
Fri, May 5th 2023, 7:08 PM CST

SAN ANTONIO — Ahead of Title 42 ending San Antonio is preparing to help however many migrants make their way to the city.

Title 42 will officially expire on Thursday.

The health order was designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and has been in place since March 2020.

“What I'm seeing right now is not a whole lot of a surge. But what we're seeing is projections of a massive surge,” Immigration Attorney Lance Curtright said.

Curtright adds that if projections are correct thousands of migrants could soon be in San Antonio.

“They're saying possibly 2,000 people coming through San Antonio a day, which should be higher than ever before,” Curtright said.

San Antonio's Migrant Resource Center is currently over capacity.

Catholic Charities manages the center that can hold around 700 people.

CEO Antonio Fernandez said they are working to add more room.

“I don't know if we have enough. I doubt it. But I hope we have enough,” Fernandez said.

“Are there enough shelters in preparation for the surge that we could see when Title 42 finishes,” Reporter Amanda Henderson asked.

“I don't know. That is, that's the million-dollar question right now is like, is there enough capacity out there to take care of people coming? I don't know and I don't know if anyone knows, because we don't know how many people are coming,” Fernandez said.

Democratic Congressmen Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar announced in a joint press release nearly $40,000,000 in federal money will be coming to San Antonio to help provide shelter and food to migrants.

“Over the last several years, San Antonio has been a model for the nation in the humane way we treat migrants. As we prepare for the end of Title 42, Congressman Casar and I have worked closely with the Biden administration to emphasize the need for additional resources to support San Antonio’s migrant response. This new funding will help Catholic Charities, the City of San Antonio, and United Way provide comprehensive services that help migrants connect with their loved ones and look towards a better future,” said Congressman Castro.

“Our current immigration system is completely broken, and we can’t just continue with the status quo,” said Congressman Casar. “Immigrants make our nation better, our state better, and our communities better, and I’m proud to have worked with Congressman Castro to expedite this funding from the Biden Administration for our community, ahead of the end of Title 42. For years, our community has welcomed migrants and assisted asylum seekers as they build their futures and locate their families. San Antonio will continue to lead on compassionate, kind, and thoughtful immigration policies.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar also released the following statement about the funds that were secured.

These funds are paramount to secure our southern border and I will continue working at all levels of government to ensure that our communities and organizations are equipped to handle the current immigration crisis,” said Congressman Cuellar. “It is critical that we bring law and order to our southern border. I have been working in constant coordination with the DHS and our local entities to tackle the challenges that continue to arise in our border communities. With the current influx of migrants, local governments and organizations have been on the front lines providing support to our men and women on the ground. These efforts have not been in vain, and they are helping alleviate some of the pressure at our processing facilities. However, they do come at a great cost to our local entities. That is why I have been working ceaselessly to reimburse local entities for their work.

Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales firing back Friday night with his thoughts.

“The answer isn't throwing more money at the problem, the answer is enforcing the laws that are already on the books,” Gonzales, TX-23 said.

San Antonio's City Manager said they have not had conversations with Catholic Charities about an additional facility.

Bexar County adds they are working closely with City Emergency Management Staff for the potential of more migrants coming to San Antonio.