El Paso ends emergency declaration as migrant arrivals drop at US-Mexico border under Trump

Yahoo! News - Apr 1st, 2025
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The city of El Paso has quietly ended its state of emergency declaration, initially set in place to manage the mass arrival of migrants at the Borderland, due to a significant decline in migrant arrivals. The emergency ordinance, last renewed on January 7, 2025, was not extended in February as the city no longer deemed it necessary. City officials like Representatives Chris Canales and Josh Acevedo cited the end of federal funding programs and a sharp drop in migrant numbers as key reasons. The Trump administration's changes, including the elimination of the CBP One application, have drastically reduced the number of migrants able to apply for asylum, contributing to the decline.

The emergency order, first signed in December 2022 by Mayor Oscar Leeser, had enabled the city to mobilize resources for humanitarian relief, including establishing shelters and providing meals. However, the change in federal policies and the decline in migrant arrivals have led to a rollback of such services. Federal funding has become scarce as the Trump administration blocks reimbursement of funds from FEMA's programs, causing layoffs among federal contractors. With migrant encounters at record lows, El Paso is unlikely to receive future support if trends reverse, impacting local preparedness and the ability to aid migrants.

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RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed account of the end of El Paso's emergency declaration related to migrant arrivals, focusing on local government actions and federal policy impacts. Its strengths lie in the timeliness and public interest of the topic, addressing significant issues in immigration policy and border security. However, the story could improve in balance and source quality by incorporating a wider range of perspectives and authoritative data sources. Transparency is another area for enhancement, as the article lacks detailed explanations of its information-gathering methods. While the clarity and readability are generally strong, the potential for controversy and engagement could be heightened by exploring more diverse viewpoints and deeper analysis of the policies' implications. Overall, the article effectively informs readers about a pertinent issue but would benefit from broader context and more robust sourcing to enhance its accuracy and impact.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents a range of factual claims, particularly about the end of El Paso's emergency declaration and the decline in migrant arrivals. The article accurately reports the date of the last approval of the emergency ordinance as January 7, 2025, and cites City Rep. Chris Canales confirming the non-renewal due to decreased migrant numbers. However, the story could benefit from more precise data or official sources to substantiate claims about the specific impacts of Trump administration policies, such as the elimination of the CBP One application and its effects on asylum applications. Additionally, the assertion that the Trump administration is blocking FEMA fund reimbursements requires verification to ensure accuracy. The mention of nearly 500 federal contractors being laid off is a significant claim that necessitates further evidence to be fully credible.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the perspectives of local officials and the impacts of federal policies, providing a somewhat narrow view. While it includes quotes from City Representatives Chris Canales and Josh Acevedo, it lacks viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as migrant advocacy groups, federal officials, or community members directly affected by the policy changes. The piece might appear biased towards the local government's perspective, particularly in how it presents the decisions and policies of the Trump administration without offering counter-arguments or additional context from other political or social viewpoints.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of the timeline and decisions surrounding the emergency declaration in El Paso. It logically outlines the sequence of events leading to the end of the ordinance and the factors influencing this decision. However, some sections could benefit from clearer explanations, particularly regarding the complex interactions between local and federal policies. The language used is straightforward, but the inclusion of more context or definitions for terms like 'CBP One application' would aid reader comprehension.

6
Source quality

The article cites local officials like City Reps. Chris Canales and Josh Acevedo, which adds credibility to the information on city decisions. However, it lacks a diverse range of sources, particularly missing input from federal agencies or independent experts who could provide a broader context or verification of the claims made. The absence of direct quotes or data from sources like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection or FEMA reduces the overall reliability of the reported facts, as these would be authoritative sources on migrant numbers and federal funding policies.

5
Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose its sources beyond the named city officials, nor does it provide detailed background on the methodology used to gather the information presented. There is a lack of transparency regarding the basis for certain claims, such as the specific impacts of the Trump administration's policies on migrant numbers and the financial implications of federal funding changes. More transparency about the sources of statistical data and decisions made by city officials would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the validity of the claims.

Sources

  1. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/30/el-paso-state-of-emergency-title-42/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtMvtKGVjIY
  3. https://www.elpasotexas.gov/assets/Documents/CoEP/CityClerk/Emergency-Ordinances-under-Notices/Extending-Emergency-Ordinance-019333.pdf
  4. https://cbs12.com/news/nation-world/us-southern-border-sees-dramatic-drop-in-illegal-crossings-self-deportation-rises-28000-encounters-in-february-2025-cbp-home-app-trump-administration-tom-homan?photo=2
  5. https://elpasomatters.org/2023/04/30/el-paso-texas-mayor-oscar-leeser-migrant-title-42-disaster-declaration/