Local South Texas officials declare disaster declarations due to migrant influx, coronavirus concerns

 Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez on Monday afternoon declared a local disaster declaration due to the high volume of migrants released in the county by border officials and the growing threat of COVID-19 they might bring, telling Border Report that the region “has reached the point of capacity.”

Cortez and three other South Texas county judges from Willacy, Cameron and Starr counties have held firm against issuing disaster declarations that coincide with Gov. Greg Abbott’s declaration. But Cortez said Monday’s declaration was necessary and these “extraordinary measures” were taken to help the county hopefully qualify for additional funding to help mitigate untold costs associated with the migrants.

On Monday evening, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, whose city is the largest in Hidalgo County, also issued a disaster declaration. The city’s declaration is due to the high numbers of migrants that the city is dealing with as the Department of Homeland Security releases hundreds of migrants per day in downtown McAllen to the care of the nonprofit Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which is operating out of a building owned by the city...MORE