By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
The ongoing immigration crisis in Val Verde County reached fever pitch this week as thousands of immigrants huddled beneath the Del Rio International Bridge.
The situation has been described as “fluid” by several experts, meaning that the numbers rise and fall as immigrants arrive, leave and return again hoping to get processed and move on from their temporary lives living below the multi-lane bridge.
The response from the community of Del Rio, which is home to more than 40,000 people, has been one of shock, fear, anger and compassion. Since Wednesday, when the first images of the massive gathering of immigrants hit airwaves and media outlets across the world, the response has varied but the ultimate agreement was that something must be done.
Recently, food and water from local volunteers and businesses has been sent to the staging area to provide relief to the people there.
Late Friday night, buses from the San Felipe Del Rio CISD were used to transport several of the immigrants from the area. Dr. Carlos Rios, SFDRCISD superintendent, explained in a statement to local radio station KWMC that the school district was asked to cooperate with the city and the federal government to provide buses to transport immigrants to locations outside of Del Rio.
“After consultation with the general counsel, it was determined that we could proceed. We have made four buses available. However, only two buses were used. These buses are not buses currently in circulation.
“The City of Del Rio will provide the drivers. They have also provided a letter that indemnifies the school district. Finally, the buses will be sanitized after they are returned to SFDRCISD.
“I know it is a difficult situation. However, the City of Del Rio needed help transportation immigrants away from Del Rio. I am hopeful that most citizens will see that it was either a humanitarian action and/or a sure way to ensure immigrants were not wandering the streets of Del Rio,” Rios’ statement to the radio station read.
At least one member of the school district’s board of trustees did not agree with Rios’ decision. Josh Overfelt, who has served on the board since 2012, issued a public statement on his official school board trustee page on Facebook, not his personal page, and explained his stance on the decision.
“I say again here, I was and am against the events that transpired this evening and will transpire over the weekend. I find it hard to believe that DHS (CBP) cannot bring in more of the white buses we have been seeing over the last few months, and instead ask SFDR-CISD for buses not being used by students to be lent to them. Regardless if the buses are not “in service” this presents a clear and present danger to our school community.
“Our District is not in the business of enforcing Federal immigration law nor the consequences of a failed system.
“I will be asking for copies of written documents from the City of Del Rio and DHS, showing the need and request of our taxpayer funded buses.
“I further intend to call for a public item on an upcoming meeting to discuss and ask questions of District administration, City and DHS officials as to why this District needed to be dragged into this situation.
“As an elected official representing the citizens of Val Verde County, it is my job to watch over the use of taxpayer funded goods in our District and I intend to, just I have since 2012,” Overfelt’s statement read.
Today, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement outlining its strategy to address the increase of migrants in Del Rio.
The full statement from DHS is below:
| The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is immediately implementing a new, comprehensive strategy to address the increase in migrant encounters in the Del Rio sector of South Texas. It has six key components.
First, within the next 24-48 hours, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will have surged 400 agents and officers to the Del Rio sector to improve control of the area. If additional staff is needed, more will be sent. The Del Rio Port of Entry has temporarily closed, and traffic is being re-routed from Del Rio to Eagle Pass to more effectively manage resources and ensure uninterrupted flow of trade and travel. Second, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is coordinating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard to move individuals from Del Rio to other processing locations, including approximately 2,000 yesterday, in order to ensure that irregular migrants are swiftly taken into custody, processed, and removed from the United States consistent with our laws and policy. Third, DHS will secure additional transportation to accelerate the pace and increase the capacity of removal flights to Haiti and other destinations in the hemisphere within the next 72 hours. Fourth, the Administration is working with source and transit countries in the region to accept individuals who previously resided in those countries. Fifth, DHS is undertaking urgent humanitarian actions with other relevant federal, state, and local partners to reduce crowding and improve conditions for migrants on U.S. soil. DHS has already taken a number of steps to ensure the safety and security of individuals as they await processing, including having Border Patrol emergency medical technicians on hand and providing water, towels, and portable toilets. Finally, the White House has directed appropriate U.S. agencies to work with the Haitian and other regional governments to provide assistance and support to returnees. The majority of migrants continue to be expelled under CDC’s Title 42 authority. Those who cannot be expelled under Title 42 and do not have a legal basis to remain will be placed in expedited removal proceedings. DHS is conducting regular expulsion and removal flights to Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, and Northern Triangle countries. Beyond the six steps outlined above, the Biden Administration has reiterated that our borders are not open, and people should not make the dangerous journey. Individuals and families are subject to border restrictions, including expulsion. Irregular migration poses a significant threat to the health and welfare of border communities and to the lives of migrants themselves, and should not be attempted. |
