El Paso County officials say it's time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrests

BY POOJA SALHOTRA
JULY 25, 2024

El Paso County leaders say a recent surge in migrant arrests by the state has cost the border county millions of dollars and spurred them to issue a disaster declaration this week — a move they have avoided for more than two years.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego on Tuesday signed the disaster declaration, a necessary step for the county to become eligible to apply for up to $5 million of grants reserved for local governments that participate in Operation Lone Star, the state’s multi-billion-dollar border security mission.

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“The numbers are just horrendous,” Samaniego said, referring to the number of migrants held in the El Paso County Jail because of Operation Lone Star. The costs of housing, feeding and attending to their medical needs come out of the county’s already-strained budget.

About 2,000 people have been booked into the jail since March 2021 because of the border initiative, according to the county. This year has seen the highest number of arrests, with most detainees charged with human smuggling and some charged with lower-level misdemeanors like rioting or trespassing.

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Per the article, El Paso County is looking at a $35 MILLION budget shortfall.

Ahh come on Greg! Cough it up.