Texas Governor Greg Abbott wants a federal emergency declaration over the Mexican border. He sent a letter to President Joe Biden today saying a large migrant camp on the International Bridge in Del Rio is overwhelming federal agents and the community. The governor is particularly worried about conditions inside the camp especially if people start suffering from heat exhaustion and coronavirus. He believes the Del Rio-area hospital system could be overrun if too many people need treatment. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will be in Del Rio today to discuss the situation.
"Border security is a federal responsibility; however, in response to the current situation, I have taken the appropriate action under state law by directing the execution of the state’s emergency management plan and by declaring a state of disaster on May 31, 2021, for multiple Texas counties across the state’s southern border," reads the letter. "This surge poses life-threatening risks to residents of Val Verde County and is quickly overrunning law enforcement and health care and humanitarian resources which were never intended to be used in this capacity. Even the limited federal resources in the area are strained by the large number of individuals illegally crossing into Texas. I have determined that the disaster caused from individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border is of such severity that supplementary federal assistance is necessary to lessen the threat of disaster, save lives, and protect property, public health, and safety."