From LMT Online
Aug. 5, 2021Updated: Aug. 5, 2021 9:32 p.m. Comments
Laredo City Council announced Thursday night that it has dropped its lawsuit against the United States concerning the busing of migrants to the area after agreeing to a deal with the U.S. Border Patrol to use taxpayer money to have it transport them to other cities.
The emergency meeting was called by Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz. Officials immediately went into executive session for around an hour, then Saenz and Councilmember Dr. Marte Martinez spoke for about 10 minutes announcing the decision.
On July 16, the City of Laredo filed a lawsuit against the United States of America and numerous national organizations and their leaders regarding the transportation of migrants to the city. And on Wednesday night, the city tried to expedite the process asking for an emergency hearing to get a temporary restraining order. But a U.S. judge stated Thursday that the city had not yet provided enough clarity to move forward.
Thus city officials met Thursday night announcing their next step: a partnership with the USBP. And the mayor stated that due to the agreement, there was no further reason to continue with the lawsuit.
“Based on the arrangement we have with Border Patrol, there’s no need to further continue the lawsuit,” Saenz said. “The arrangement is ongoing. From my viewpoint, it’s the least expensive alternative at this point in time.”
With this solution, Saenz said the city will spend between $7,000 to $8,000 per day to bus migrants north to other cities.
Interestingly enough, while dropping the lawsuit against the United States citing that this agreement made it unnecessary, Saenz and Martinez stressed that this method isn’t sustainable for long. They provided no comment on what the next course of action following this decision will be.
“This can’t go for weeks and months,” Saenz said. “This provides some relief for our community and migrants in reaching their destination. It’s the best humane treatment we can provide to the migrants regarding safeguarding our community.
“This will buy us some more time to achieve a political solution. As you know, we aren’t the only community facing this situation. Other communities are even worse and spending more money.”
With this quick fix being viewed as unsustainable, the city leaders did ask for the community’s help going forward. Martinez said that they hope for the community’s support through volunteering or even financially as they work toward finding a long-term solution.
“If you have the ability to help us with this situation, come help,” Martinez said. “Come volunteer. Do what you can. If there are people who wish to donate to this cause of getting people to their locations, approach us. We can’t do this alone. We are now using taxpayer money in a way our taxes weren’t intended for. It will run out quickly. This isn’t sustainable for us.
“If you have any political muscle, if you have any connections in Washington, now is the time to reach out to your congressmen, to people you know, to the President of the United States if you know him. Let them know what kind of crisis we are facing here.”
The officials feel the transportation of migrants to Laredo has worsened the Gateway City’s COVID-19 situation. During Thursday’s emergency meeting, Martinez said that Laredo’s migrant situation and COVID-19 are starting to overlap, which is why he and his fellow councilmembers aim to find the best way to protect their citizens.
“We have to find a humane way where we can help migrants reach their destination of choice, especially in a location that is going to have the capacity to care for them,” Martinez said. “We don’t have it. We know how underserved this community is from a medical perspective.”
The city leaders feel Laredo faces harm because the two local hospital trauma centers are currently under diversion and are unable to admit patients as the city’s medical community cannot accommodate new patients’ medical needs due to the depletion of medical staff and limited bed capacity.
The city stated Wednesday that it has requested state assistance on multiple occasions but has been denied.
Laredo had 653 active cases as of Wednesday — it’s highest total since Feb. 15.
“We want to do our part as much as possible,” Martinez said. “This is a national issue, but it has become a local problem for us. We are doing everything in our power to safeguard the safety of Laredoans.”
