FEMA coughed up a quick $6 million “advance” to help tide the city of El Paso over, during the pre-invasion spike in crossing mass-migrants. The mayor was right to hold off on declaring an emergency. This pallet of cash will cover most of what they were owed already. The town still remains around $2 million in the hole, from what they already covered.
FEMA sends an advance
The city of El Paso, Texas got a call from their Office of Emergency Management on Tuesday, December 13, notifying them of an expected draft of advance federal funds “to address the migrant surge the region is experiencing.”
They aren’t spending a cent until the check clears. “The city is now awaiting the formal award letter and payment.”
FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program “advised the city that its National Board approved $6 million for the City’s expenses regarding the migrant crisis.” The big news there is that the Imperial Palace is finally acknowledging there is a “crisis.”
BREAKING: A huge migrant caravan of over 1,000 people crossed illegally into El Paso, TX last night, making it the largest single group we have ever seen. The city of El Paso reports Border Patrol now has over 5,000 in custody & has released hundreds to city streets. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/ewUQX757Lt
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) December 12, 2022
While FEMA is calling it an “advance” $3.8 million of it is “partial reimbursement for the City’s third-quarter expenses.” That covers July through September.
They had billed $5.13 million and got stiffed for the rest but “FEMA is evaluating the remaining $1.34 million reimbursement.” As of last week, the city had spent around $8 million of it’s own money on the invaders.
Since the mayor won’t declare a state of emergency over a federal problem, city officials are “also working with state partners including Texas Senator Cesar Blanco to request state resources.” It’s amazing how creative people can get when they need to.
Today, I toured the increased assets Texas has deployed at our border ahead of Title 42 ending.
While Biden abandons his duty to defend America, Texas is taking unprecedented action to decrease the influx of dangerous criminals, illegal weapons, & deadly drugs into the U.S. pic.twitter.com/PgMsH67taL
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 16, 2022
Another source of funds
Maybe they can get another advance from somewhere. “We are extremely grateful to Sen. Blanco for his support and all of our partners including the NGOs, the County, State, and Federal leaders.”
Those are the ones “who understand the extraordinary collaborative lift that is required to overcome this federal humanitarian crisis.”
It’s not El Paso’s problem, that’s for sure. They didn’t invite 1,500 migrants a day with more that that RSVP’d to show up soon.
Migrant surges hint at chaos at US-Mexico border once Title 42 expires https://t.co/LyxO09A2oQ
— The Mexico Institute (@MexicoInstitute) December 16, 2022
The city verified that they expect “local NGOs, federal partners, and nonprofits to respond to the migrant crisis.” They also suggest that someone needs to “prepare for the end of Title 42 on December 21,” and pronto.
Right now, it appears that Alejandro Mayorkas doesn’t have a clue. He finally admitted that the “plan” is to simply turn them all loose. Even so, he has no plan to get them housing, food or medical care.
Meanwhile, the officials have been scrambling to “identify possible sites that NGOs, state and federal partners can utilize.” They’re still scrounging. At least the advance they got covered most of what they already shelled out.
