In a swift rebuttal to reports of clandestine operations, San Antonio's city manager denies allegations of using a city-owned airport structure as a makeshift migrant shelter, insisting it serves solely as a temporary transit hub. Amid the swirling controversy over the city's handling of the increase in migrants, Erik Walsh, the city manager, has maintained that the Airport Transit Center (ATC) only temporarily houses migrants before their flights, dismissing claims from Councilman Marc Whyte that council members were kept in the dark.
KSAT reported that migrants have been accommodated at the ATC no longer than 24 hours before being transported to their outbound flights—this is in response to the overflow of migrants previously sleeping in airport terminals. However, Whyte, whose jurisdiction encompasses the ATC’s location, tells KENS 5 that his intel suggests individuals have been staying for periods extending to two or three days, a striking contrast to the justifications provided by city officials.
Aforementioned Councilman Whyte has voiced grave concerns over the lack of transparency and the potential public safety implications, stating, "We cannot have them roaming the streets of San Antonio. It’s absolutely a public safety nightmare," telling KSAT despite not having specific examples of related issues at either the ATC or the MRC, the Migrant Resource Center managed by Catholic Charities.
The disclosure of the ATC operating since the summer, as reported by KENS 5, alongside the MRC, has sparked a debate on resource allocation and the city’s priorities, with Whyte pressing that the "city should close the ATC immediately and consider whether to shut down the MRC as well." Despite the contention, Walsh remains steadfast, indicating that the city will persist in "facilitating the onward travel" using federal funds, signaling no current intentions to cease operations at either facility.
Amid this tug-of-war over transparency and resource distribution, the city of San Antonio continues to grapple with the challenging dynamics of an ongoing migrant surge. Operational costs for the ATC are said to be around $260,000 a month, a financial burden initially shouldered by the city but reportedly reimbursed by the federal government, per a city spokesperson’s comments to KENS 5. While city officials navigate the complex landscape of immigration and local governance, the echo of Whyte's call for clarity and prioritization of San Antonio's residents intensifies in the public sphere.
