Michigan Mayor Leads Border Facilities Tour In Texas

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett is helping other mayors get a first-hand look at the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

Last week a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) was in El Paso, Texas to better understand the situation at the border and it was led by Barnett, the USCM president.

"Cities were among the first to feel the impact of this crisis, and local communities have made extraordinary efforts to alleviate the human suffering," Barnett said. "We’re pleased that Congress recently provided some emergency funding, but it’s clear that more must be done to meet the needs at the border. We cannot allow partisanship to get in the way of solving this crisis.”

The delegation met with Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan and officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for a 90-minute roundtable discussion of current border issues.

“This isn’t some far-off problem for us,” said El Paso (TX) Mayor Dee Margo. “It’s real, and it’s right here. We are all affected by what happens at the border. I’m pleased that Acting Secretary McAleenan was here today to provide an update and address our community’s concerns. In the end, all of this is a short-term solution, and ultimately we need Congress to revamp our entire immigration system.”

The mayors also toured CBP facilities in which newly-arrived migrants are being processed and housed. The delegation also toured the commercial and passenger vehicle processing facilities at El Paso’s Bridge of the Americas, and was briefed on operations by CBP officials.

“I appreciate the progress we have made so far, but we do need to continue to work with the federal government to solve the crisis at our border,” said Mesa (AZ) Mayor John Giles, who serves as co-chair of USCM’s Immigration Reform Task Force. “We had a frank and candid discussion with Acting Secretary McAleenan about the realities that border cities face each day and the need for the federal government to find solutions that prioritize the health and well-being of asylum seekers without draining community resources.”