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'No camping rule' goes into effect as hundreds of migrants remain on streets of El Paso

Migrants outside of Sacred Heart Church in south-central El Paso on May 1, 2023. (KFOX14/CBS4)

Mayor Oscar Leeser's state of emergency declaration for the city of El Paso went into effect Monday in response to the large flow of migrants crossing the U.S-Mexico border.

At a press conference on Sunday, city officials said they will begin enforcing a no camping ordinance to address the large amount of migrant sleeping on the streets of El Paso.

Despite that statement from officials, hundreds of migrants were seen Monday morning around the perimeter of the Sacred Heart Church in south-central El Paso.

Around lunch time, less migrants were seen outside the front of the church.

There has been an increased law enforcement presence in the area.

Officers with the El Paso Police Department, U.S Customs and Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety have been spotted patrolling the area throughout the morning and early afternoon.

The city's Environmental Services staff was also seen in the area.

Ariana Parra reports on emergency declaration for migrant situation in El Paso goes into effect

RECOMMENDED:El Paso mayor issues 'state of emergency' in response to large flow of migrants

City officials on Sunday said they would be opening shelters as needed.

However, migrants must have processing paperwork to be accepted into a city-run shelter.

There will also be 24-hour security provided for the safety of both migrants and the public.

The large flow of migrants comes as a result of the expected end of Title 42 policy on May 11.

El Paso County Commissioners are scheduled to meet Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. to discuss what response the county will have to the migration surges.

Count on KFOX14 to continue proving coverage on the ongoing migrant crisis.

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'No camping rule' goes into effect as hundreds of migrants remain on streets of El Paso - KFOX El Paso

Sir, Mdecins Sans Frontires Ireland welcomes the Government statement during Tuesdays Dil debate on the motion to deploy an Irish naval asset to the Mediterranean as part of Operation Irini that at no point in the deployment will the mission involve the training of the Libyan Coast Guard.

It is important this assurance is followed through on, both for Irelands standing on human rights and to signal to other European countries who are playing a role in Irini the significant humanitarian concerns relating to the Libyan Coast Guard.

Mdecins Sans Frontires/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is concerned that any capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard as part of Operation Irini will ultimately lead to the return of migrants to Libya in breach of the non-refoulement principle (the guarantee that no one should be forcedly returned to where they would face torture or other cruel and degrading treatment).

Through our search and rescue operations at sea and our provision of medical assistance in Libya, MSF teams have witnessed first-hand the detrimental effects of the system of interceptions and returns of migrants to Libya and the shocking treatment of migrants and flagrant breaches of their human rights.

The recently published report of the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya supports our direct experience that migrants, many of whom are forcibly returned to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard, face grave human rights abuses. It notes overwhelming evidence that migrants have been systematically tortured and found reasonable grounds to believe that migrants across Libya are victims of crimes against humanity.

Irelands previous naval deployments to the Mediterranean played a vital role in saving many lives at sea. We now need a proactive state-led mechanism to coordinate dedicated search and rescue activities to assist refugees and migrants in the Central Mediterranean, where over 20,000 people have died or gone missing since 2014. Yours, etc,

ISABEL SIMPSON,

Executive Director,

Mdecins Sans

Frontires Ireland,

Dublin 4.

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Migrant crisis in the Mediterranean The Irish Times - The Irish Times

We are already in week two of the deadly fighting between Sudans military and the paramilitary organization known as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the chaotic evacuation of Western citizens proves an end to the conflict is nowhere in sight.

The possibility of the battle escalating into a full-blown humanitarian crisis is growing by the hour. Sudan already accommodates some of the biggest refugee populations in Africa and the current instability could be a catalyst for a refugee crisis of unparalleled magnitude.

Already the current strife is expected to inflame tensions in the Horn of Africa. Countries like Chad, Ethiopia, and Libya, which are already grappling with internal conflicts, will be among the first to feel the impact before it reaches Europe and beyond.

But the West is not prepared. In fact, its decisions have led to this problem.

Back in 2014, the European Union (EU) entered into a contentious agreement with Horn of African nations to finance local initiatives aimed at regulating the influx of migrants from the sub-Saharan Desert into Europe. However, the Khartoum Process also funds groups notorious for human rights atrocities, including Sudans RSF.

In 2019, after the RSF killed more than 120 demonstrators at an anti-government protest, the EU halted its financial aid to Sudan. But it still provides support to countries like Libya, where migrants are subjected to brutal mistreatment.

With the Wests migrant strategies in the African region and at home failing, its clear it must rethink how it can prepare Africa and itself. After all, its only going to get worse. In the next 30 years, the climate crisis, of which Africa and the wider Global South have little responsibility for, will lead to 1.2 billion climate refugees.

While the conflict in Sudan is a showdown over Sudans long-anticipated transition to civilian governance, the reality is there is also a global surge in civil wars. However, these conflicts cannot be attributed solely to political volatility. Rather, the escalation of violence is also a consequence of climate-induced economic uncertainty, which the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) discovered has led to almost half of internal clashes globally over the last six decades, including Sudan.

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During the early 2000s, the RSF, known at the time as Janjaweed militias, were accused of perpetrating a genocide campaign in Darfur, Western Sudan which resulted in the deaths of approximately 500,000 civilians. The United Nations later declared this conflict was the first-ever to be directly influenced by climate change and resource shortages, cautioning climate wars would become the new norm.

Rather than ignoring what is happening in Africa as shown by the absence of EU leaders at a recent African climate summit the West must redirect its attention to the development and protection of African nations. Besides revisiting outdated and harmful migration policies, it is imperative we forge stronger connections with non-governmental organizations and civil society figures who can provide viable alternatives to volatile and fragile political systems.

For instance, climate interfaith NGO Faith For Our Planet (FFOP), which was established by Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, the Secretary General of the Islamic NGO Muslim World League (MWL), brings together civil society leaders to find solutions to climate change in the Global South. Earlier this year, FFOP organized the Faith and Climate Forum in The Gambia, where they educated African civil society leaders on climate action and trained them to engage with their communities on the issue, effectively surpassing political influence.

It is urgent that we implement climate and refugee mitigation strategies in Africa and other parts of the Global South, not only through grassroots initiatives but also through larger international efforts. We must follow through on promises regarding the Loss and Damage Fund, while also prioritizing climate security, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding at upcoming COP and UN conferences.

Because without immediate action, Africa will be the epicentre of a multitude of intersecting crises, all of which will inevitably impact the wider world.

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Sudan conflict will trigger unprecedented refugee crisis and West is not prepared - Toronto Star

This administration has been asleep at the wheel on border security, and it has had a tremendous, negative impact on New York City, Lawler said in a statement to POLITICO. I would be more than happy to work in a bipartisan way with the mayor to force President Biden to secure our borders and reform the immigration system.

Since spring 2022, more than 57,000 migrants largely from Latin America arrived in New York after crossing the southern border. Some were sent from conservative states like Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott chartered as many as eight buses a day to carry migrants to Manhattan. Others arrived on their own.

The influx has strained the resources of one of the biggest cities in the world.

Services tied to housing, feeding, educating and providing health care to the newcomers are projected to cost $2.9 billion next year alone, an amount that exceeds the New York City Fire Departments entire operating budget. So far, Adams has mostly failed to get the White House to respond to his pleas for additional funds, easing of work requirements and better coordination at the border to resettle asylum seekers around the U.S.

Adams new rhetoric, which drew praise from the conservative editorial page of the New York Post and mirrored remarks by Fox News contributor Sean Duffy, was even more eyebrow-raising given the moderate Democrat is a national surrogate for Biden.

The mayors comments came just days before the president announced his reelection bid and at a time when Republicans are gearing up to use voter discontent around immigration in their fight for the White House, the Senate and a larger majority in the House.

This is the second time in less than a year that Adams message on a highly contentious political issue has overlapped with Republican talking points. In 2022, he joined GOP calls for reforms to New Yorks bail laws and only changed his tune as the midterms neared and it became clear his party would take a beating over crime at the ballot box.

Though Adams words on immigration could now hurt fellow Democrats running for national office, particularly in New Yorks swing congressional districts where Lawler is facing a competitive race, Adams may be thinking more about protecting his own reelection bid in 2025.

One mayoral adviser, granted anonymity to discuss the administrations internal mood, noted most New Yorkers would rather see investments in schools, libraries and other city services than billions more spent to help the newcomers. Indeed, a February poll by Quinnipiac University found that 63 percent of voters including 53 percent of Democrats dont think New York City can accommodate the sanctuary-seekers.

Spokespeople for Adams strongly rejected criticism that hes parroting Republican talking points, saying hes done more to care for tens of thousands of migrants than any other Democrat in the country.

To personally show his support for asylum seekers, Mayor Adams has organized haircuts for migrants, book donations for kids, and clothing drives, as well as slept besides migrants at a humanitarian relief center while spending hours hearing their personal stories, mayoral press secretary Fabien Levy said in a statement.

Anyone falsely accusing Mayor Adams of using Republican rhetoric should stop criticizing the one person doing more than anyone else in this city for migrants and start pushing for more aid from Washington, DC and Albany, Levy said.

Adams visits a food and clothing distribution center for asylum seekers at PS 20 in Manhattan, on Feb. 11.|Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

But his language around the issue saying the migrant crisis has destroyed the city, directly blaming Biden for the situation and saying it has prevented New Yorks economic comeback is still jarring to many members of his party.

Its extremely disappointing and dangerous to hear anyone feed into anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly the highest-ranking elected city official of one of the most diverse cities that is fueled by the contributions of the immigrant community, said Rep. Delia Ramirez, a first-term Democrat from Illinois who says her progressive stance is key to stemming GOP gains in the Latino community.

At the federal level, we need to utilize executive authority to ensure cities like Chicago and New York have the support they need to continue providing shelter with maximal flexibility, she said.

Added Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a leading critic of Gov. Ron DeSantis immigration policies: We should tone down the rhetoric and focus on solutions.

Both Republican and Democratic strategists say Adams decision to amplify the rights messaging around immigration could be a gift to the GOP.

I think echoing Republican attacks when Biden is going to need every single resource from Democrats to back him up is not what good Democrats do, said Bill Neidhardt, a progressive political consultant.

Republican strategist Bob Heckman said its surprising that other Democratic mayors of places like Chicago, D.C. and Denver, which have also faced an influx of migrants, arent speaking out like Adams.

If you are the mayor of a city whos receiving the huge influx of migrants that are pouring across the southern border, its hard not to talk like that, Heckman said. The administration needs to get serious about it. They cant just ignore it and run on, We cant let Donald Trump get reelected.

A spokesperson for Biden declined to respond directly to Adams criticism but pointed to the presidents announcement in January about new border enforcement actions when he said extreme Republicans have always tried to use immigration to score political points but dont help solve the problem.

One of those so-called extreme Republicans, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas who has advocated for conservative immigration measures, wasnt quite ready to embrace the New York mayor.

Eric Adams is right to blame the Biden Administration for the border crisis, but this is the same guy who campaigned on his citys sanctuary status and extended childcare, colleague classes and other taxpayer-funded programs to illegal migrants, Roy said in a statement.

Texas has been bearing the brunt of this crisis for over two years now New York is getting a taste of their own medicine.

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Democratic mayor becomes unlikely GOP ally in battle over ... - POLITICO

Authorities in Tunisia are weighing the construction of new cemeteries amid a recent swell of migrants washing ashore after drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.

The United Nations has noted that the first three months of 2023 proved to be the most fatal for people escaping Africa for Europe since the migrant crisis in 2017, according to The Guardian.

Local morgues and cemeteries are reportedly overflowing as funerals are held every day for the many bodies that have been found on the Tunisian coast.

Many of the dead are children and pregnant women whose boats wrecked during the treacherous trek to Europe, the Guardian noted.

TUNISIA SAYS MORE THAN 2 DOZEN MIGRANTS DIED OFF COAST WHILE HEADING TO ITALY

Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa sit in a makeshift boat that was being used to clandestinely make its way towards the Italian coast. (FETHI BELAID / AFP)

According to data from the Tunisian Red Crescent, more than 800 bodies washed ashore last year in the region of Sfax, a city located 170 miles southeast of Tunis and the capital of the Sfax Governorate. The number of bodies recovered in 2023 has already reached 300.

Approximately 12,000 migrants who reached Italy this year set sail from Tunisia, marking a 90% spike from the same period in 2022.

"Due to the influx of a large number of victims, more than 170 bodies have exceeded the capacity to accommodate the forensic medicine department of Habib Bourghiba university hospital," the Sfax Governorate said in a statement.

Migrants rescued by Italy's coast guard arrive in the harbor of the Italian Pelagie Island of Lampedusa on July 29, 2020. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

WAVE OF 640 MIGRANTS SMUGGLED TO TINY ITALIAN ISLAND FROM TUNISIA

Among the "radical solutions" to the public health crisis, authorities have proposed "quickly allocating a cemetery for immigrants and the provision of refrigerated trucks to transport often decomposing bodies."

People fleeing war-torn, poverty-stricken countries in Africa routinely hitch rides on boats from Tunisia headed for Europe, though the central Mediterranean is among the most dangerous migration routes in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Police check a fishing boat with some 500 migrants in the southern Italian port of Crotone, early Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Valeria Ferraro)

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Tunisias coast guard prevented more than 14,000 migrants from departing in boats during the first three months of this year, compared with nearly 3,000 during the same period last year, according to statistics from the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights.

Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz contributed to this report.

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Drowned migrants washing ashore overwhelm African nation, 'radical solutions' sought as cemeteries fill up - Fox News