El Paso migrant crisis: Downtown street closed; Fort Bliss MPs to help at border
The city of El Paso has suspended streetcar service and blocked part of Father Rahm Avenue as traffic safety precautions due to the growing number of migrants outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown.
Father Rahm Avenue is closed between South Oregon and South Mesa streets next to the historic church were some 1,800 migrants are taking refuge and sleeping on sidewalks, city officials said over the weekend.
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Since the streetcar's Downtown route travels on Father Rahm Avenue, both the streetcars' Uptown and Downtown loops are suspended until further notice as El Paso deals with the "humanitarian migrant crisis," a city news release stated.
In the final days of the pandemic policy known as Title 42, set to expire on Thursday, El Paso has seen thousands of migrants crossing the border unlawfully in recent weeks.
El Paso issues safety reminders amid migrant crisis
The El Paso Police Department is reminding drivers to "use extra caution" due to groups of migrants possibly darting into traffic on highways and streets along the border and in Downtown, the city said in a news release.
Groups of undocumented migrants, including children, have been dangerously crossing the six-lane César Chávez Border Highway, where electronic signs warn drivers to watch out for "unexpected pedestrians" near the Rio Grande.
Police advised drivers to slow down and to avoid picking up or giving rides to strangers.
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The Police Department also reiterates that residents should report suspicious activity to 911. Residents are remined to lock parked cars and not to leave items of value inside as well as locking doors and windows to homes.
The reminder comes amid ongoing fears in Lower Valley neighborhoods about groups of migrants trespassing at all hours into the yards of homes along the border highway. The migrants go into neighborhoods where they meet up with smugglers, who taken them to stash houses or other locations.
Fort Bliss Military Police, Marines to assist at border
The 1,500 active-duty military troops being sent to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Mexican border will include military police from Fort Bliss, U.S. Northern Command said Saturday in a news release.
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The 93rd Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, from Fort Bliss will be deployed to the border as well as the 2nd Marine Regiment and the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, both of the 2nd Marine Division, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, along with a small number of U.S. Air Force personnel, officials said.
The military service members will assist in data entry, warehousing and other support roles to free up border agents for law enforcement duties. The military members will not have direct contact with migrants, Northern Command said.
The troops are expected to be on the ground on Wednesday.
More: El Paso officials brace for May 11 end of Title 42 pandemic restrictions on migrants
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso migrant crisis: Fort Bliss MPs to help; traffic closures
